Leeds United signing Sebastiaan Bornauw could have made Premier League move in 2024, under Chris Wilder

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Chris Wilder has lost his place at Sheffield United with the Blades icon replaced by Ruben Selles after failing to get his side promoted – having suffered relegation at the end of 2023-24.

Wilder’s Sheffield United failed when the pressure hit the fan during the latter stages of the 2024-25 season and allowed Leeds to return to the automatic promotion places, after Leeds stumbled themselves.

Sheffield United had been relegated to the Championship after the 2023-24 season. Wilder had been re-hired by The Blades after sacking former Leeds boss Paul Heckingbottom, just before the January window.

During that January window, Wilder made three signings in Ivo Grbic, Mason Holgate and Ben Brereton Diaz. But he failed to keep the Blades up, but he might have done had he signed Sebastiaan Bornauw.

• READ MORE: The two similarities between all three Leeds signings, Adam Underwood tactic clear

Chris Wilder wanted Sebastiaan Bornauw in January 2024

According to a report from The Telegraph in January 2024, Sheffield United were interested in a move to sign Bornauw from Wolfsburg. A transfer never materialised and Bornauw remained in German football.

Now, 18 months on, Leeds are set to do a deal to land Belgium international Bornauw. Leeds have taken advantage of another player currently in the final year of their deal, paying a bargain £5m for Bornauw.

Bornauw underwent a medical at Thorp Arch on Monday and Leeds are now set to announce their third signing of the summer today. It is expected that Bornauw will sign a four-year deal until June 2029.

Bornauw contracted a year less than Jaka Bijol’s 2030 agreement

While all three Leeds signings are 26, it is interesting that Adam Underwood and Leeds have handed all three players a different length of contract. Jaka Bijol has put pen to paper on a contract until June 2030.

Lukas Nmecha meanwhile, has only penned a deal until June 2027. It shows that Leeds see Bijol as a long-term addition but Nmecha’s injury issues which limited him to below 100 games in four years are a worry.

It is unclear if Leeds see Bornauw as a starting option in defence, but his deal sees him boast the second-longest contract at Elland Road. Behind Bijol and Bornauw, the squad are on deals until 2028 or earlier.