Leeds United are closing in on their ninth signing of the summer window as Daniel Farke’s wishes are finally answered by Adam Underwood, even after the start of the Premier League season.
Farke has made it publicly clear that this Leeds squad needs more in attack. In his press conference after Everton, Farke said that the squad is good for the next few games – but not to sustain an entire season.
Leeds still require cover at full-back with Isaac Schmidt waiting to join Werder Bremen, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been added up front alongside fellow new signing Lukas Nmecha and Joel Piroe.
The Whites are yet to replace Manor Solomon after missing out on Igor Paixao, but that is about to change with Leeds completing a deal for Milan’s Noah Okafor, with a deal believed to be over £17m.
Leeds push Everton and Arsenal aside to sign Noah Okafor
Leeds chose to sign Okafor after he turned Schmidt inside out in Dublin during the friendly between Milan and Leeds. His brace in a 4-2 Milan win over Liverpool also convinced Leeds to make a move.
Such form had tempted Milan to keep him, but Farke has been insistent on signing Okafor with the Leeds boss keeping an eye on the Switzerland star ever since he came through at Salzburg under Jesse Marsch.
LeedsUnited.News broke the news on Tuesday that Leeds have completed a deal for Okafor and he is set to arrive on Wednesday for a medical. The Mail claim Leeds have beaten Everton and Arsenal to Okafor.
It is unclear how intense Everton or Arsenal were when it comes to their interest, but the report says that both Premier League clubs – Leeds’ first two opponents this term – had shown interest in signing Okafor.
Noah Okafor’s career so far in numbers after difficult Milan stint
It has been a difficult couple of years for Okafor. Coming through at Basel and starring in Austria with Salzburg, initially under Jesse Marsch after the American signed him, he chose to move to Milan in 2023.
But things haven’t gone to plan for Okafor. Intermittent game time, injuries and then a failed medical at Leipzig in January was followed by a loan to Napoli, where he managed four games under Antonio Conte.
| Club | Spell | Games | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Minutes per G+A |
| Basel | 2018-20 | 54 | 2920 | 7 | 5 | 243.3 |
| Salzburg | 2020-23 | 110 | 5168 | 34 | 23 | 90.7 |
| Milan | 2023-present | 54 | 1573 | 7 | 5 | 131.1 |
| Napoli | 2025 (loan) | 4 | 36 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Okafor needs a fresh start and having looked razor sharp in pre-season, Leeds have made their move. It will be interesting to see who starts when Leeds are full strength, but Okafor is certainly now a contender.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
