Junior Firpo has left Leeds United and for the time being, is a free agent. However, it is expected the left-back will be confirmed as a new Real Betis player this week.
Firpo’s four-year stint at Elland Road has come to an end, with player and club unable to agree on a new deal. Firpo initially signed a four-year contract when the left-back joined Leeds from Barcelona in 2021.
In that time, Firpo has had plenty of ups and downs. Struggling to make an impact in the Premier League, Firpo had to tend with injury and covid while his one-v-one defending was often criticised by supporters.
Relegation to the Championship saw Firpo remain despite offers, and Daniel Farke got the best out of the left-back. In an attacking side, Firpo was allowed to play to his strengths and he was key in promotion.
How much Junior Firpo is now set to earn at Real Betis
But Leeds and Firpo have been unable to extend his contract. Firpo is said to have rejected an offer from Leeds, with The 49ers offering Firpo a smaller wage than the one he was given when he first arrived.
A wage more in line with the club’s position in the Premier League. Leeds will be expected to fight against the drop next season while when Firpo signed, it was a club that had just finished ninth in the top tier.
Firpo suggested he was never given the chance to stay in his farewell video on Tuesday. A report from El Dia, an outlet based in The Dominican Republic, say Firpo will sign a three-year contract at Real Betis.
The contract is believed to be worth a whopping €14m over those years, which equates to just over £12m. At just over £4m a year, Firpo will earn £77,000 a week with the Europa Conference League finalists.
How much more will Firpo earn at Betis, than he did at Leeds
It will hardly come as a surprise that Firpo was on big money when he arrived. Given he was a player joining the club from Barcelona, one of Europe’s biggest clubs, he was always going to be on a big wage.
According to Capology, Firpo was the club’s fourth-highest earner in 2021-22 – behind only Rodrigo, Patrick Bamford and Raphinha. The left-back was earning a wage of £60,000 a week at Elland Road.
But of course, Firpo will have only enjoyed that wage for two years. Relegation saw the Leeds players have their wages reduced by half or more and by the time Leeds were promoted, Firpo was out of contract.
Firpo is said to have wanted a wage near the one he signed when he first joined, but was low-balled by The 49ers. Firpo then, will earn £17,000 more a week at Betis, compared to when he first joined Leeds.
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