Koln’s interest in Sebastiaan Bornauw reflects a situation that has already shifted at Leeds United, where limited minutes and active recruitment have pushed him out of the picture.
Sebastiaan Bornauw has made nine appearances and played limited minutes this season, underlining how little he has been used since arriving at Leeds. That means he hasn’t played in 26 Premier League games.
Sebastiaan Bornauw is Leeds’ worst signing of 2025-26 👎
Not had a chance.
He has started only four matches and has zero goal contributions, while being frequently named among the substitutes across recent fixtures but left on the bench. It shows Daniel Farke’s decision is made.
Leeds are actively replacing him in the squad hierarchy
The situation is being driven by recruitment, with Leeds targeting Ladislav Krejci as part of their defensive planning. The Czech Republic captain is set to sign for Wolves, but then leave immediately.
Krejci is not the only Wolves defender eyed by Leeds. Defender Hugo Bueno is also a target, signalling that competition is increasing rather than stabilising. That pushes Bornauw down the pecking order.
Farke wanted him for years, but selection tells a different story
There is clear history behind the signing, with Farke wanting him for years after attempting to bring him to Norwich in 2021. He finally got his man from Wolfsburg for a £5m fee at the start of the season.
Yet the current reality is different, with Farke admitting that Bornauw has not done anything wrong, but that the other three options are ahead of him: “This was one of my toughest decisions.
“It really has hurt me to not involve Sebastiaan” while also noting “We have four specialists… you are not tempted to change too much” when explaining his decision to drop Bornauw before a League game.
Name Leeds United’s three most-important players 1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣
Koln offers the clarity Leeds no longer can
That context explains why Koln are considering a move, according to German magazine Kicker, to bring him back, offering a clearer role than he currently has. Bornauw played for Koln between 2018 and 2021.
With a contract running until 2029, Leeds are under no pressure to sell, but his position in the squad suggests a move is increasingly logical.
The numbers, the selection pattern, and the recruitment strategy all point in the same direction, with Koln emerging as the natural next step for a player who has already slipped down the pecking order at Leeds.
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