Detailed Leeds United Season Preview: Insights and Predictions

Where Did Leeds United Finish Last Season?

Ilia working hard in pre season 💪⚽️#LUFC pic.twitter.com/5Xjb07Tgul

— The Leeds Zone (@TheLeedsZone) July 16, 2025

Making a glorious return to the Premier League as champions of the second tier, Leeds United stepped up their game last season, with Daniel Farke taking their loss in last year's play-off final personally.

Hitting the 100 points mark for the first time in the clubs history, Leeds just pipped rivals Burnley to the trophy, finishing above them thanks to their vastly superior goal difference - in fact, they scored 26 more goals than the second highest scoring side in the league, with striker Joel Piroe claiming the golden boot. And in all truth, they never looked like missing out on promotion - sure, they almost bottled the title towards the end of the season, but Sheffield United’s form falling off a cliff ensured that promotion was a certainty, title or not.

As with any promoted side, there are still areas to be fixed: goalkeeper Illan Meslier’s blooper record gets longer by the month, and Joel Piroe, despite his golden boot, found himself a bystander for the majority of almost every game. However, the club has already made some serious moves in the transfer market, backing up the argument that of the three promoted sides, they are most likely to taste survival come the end of 2025/26.

Best Result: Leeds United 7-0 Cardiff City (Aaronsen 6', Solomon 13', James 50', Piroe 65', 90+5', Gnonto 67', Joseph 88')

Worst Result: Portsmouth 1-0 Leeds United (Bishop 61')

Who Have Leeds United Signed in the Summer Transfer Window So Far?

Jaka Bijol from Udinese - £18.7 Million

🚨🇸🇮 EXCLUSIVE: Leeds United agree deal to sign Jaka Bijol from Udinese, club to club deal done and here we go!

Agreement for €22m transfer fee add-ons included and personal terms also in place for centre back to join #LUFC.

New defender set for medical soon. pic.twitter.com/Mh5jGILk8n

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 16, 2025

Noah Okafor from AC Milan - £18.1 Million

Anton Stach from TSG Hoffenheim - £17.4 Million

Lucas Perri from Lyon - £15.6 Million

Sean Longstaff from Newcastle United - £12 Million + £3 Million Add Ons

Gabriel Gudmundsson from LOSC Lille - £10 Million

James Justin from Leicester City - £8 Million + £2 Million Add Ons

Sebastiaan Bornauw from Wolfsburg - £5.1 Million

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - Free Transfer

Lukas Nmecha from Wolfsburg - Free Transfer

Total Spent: £104.9 Million + £5 Million in Potential Add Ons

Who Have Leeds United Sold in the Summer Transfer Window So Far?

Rasmus Kristensen to Eintracht Frankfurt - Loan made permanent for £5 Million + £2.7 Million Add Ons

Sam Greenwood to Pogon Szczecin - Undisclosed fee

Joe Snowdon to Swindon Town - Free Transfer

Max Wober to Werder Bremen - Season long loan with Option to Buy

Largie Ramazani to Valencia - Season long loan

Isaac Schmidt to Werder Bremen - Season long loan

Charlie Crew to Doncaster Rovers - Season long loan

Mateo Joseph to Mallorca - Season long loan

Joe Gelhardt to Hull City - Season long loan

Josuha Guilavogui - Released

Patrick Bamford - Released

Manor Solomon to Tottenham - End of Loan

Joe Rothwell to Bournemouth - End of Loan

Total Received: £5 Million + £2.7 Million in Potential Add Ons

Leeds United 2025/26 Squad List

Goalkeepers: Illan Meslier, Karl Darlow, Lucas Perri.

Defenders: Jayden Bogle, Gabriel Gudmundsson, James Justin, Pascal Struijk, Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Sam Byram, James Debayo.

Midfielders: Anton Stach, Ethan Ampadu, Sean Longstaff, Brendan Aaronson, Ao Tanaka, Ilia Gruev, Darko Gyabi.

Attackers: Dan James, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Noah Okafor, Joel Piroe, Lukas Nmecha, Wilfried Gnonto, Jack Harrison, Harry Gray.

Leeds United 2025/26 Home, Away and Third Kits

😍 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀!

Our 2025/26 @adidasfootball home kit is on sale now!https://t.co/QDRXdgtQlH pic.twitter.com/hfhj7Snw4Y

— Leeds United (@LUFC) July 4, 2025

🇸🇪 Saturday’s pre-season clash against Man Utd in Stockholm, will be the first run out for our new 25/26 away kit! pic.twitter.com/BEGLTa8wI3

— Leeds United (@LUFC) July 17, 2025

Leeds 3rd kit release on the Adidas website.
Thoughts? 🤔
👊💛💙🇩🇪 #lufc #alaw #mot #leedsunited pic.twitter.com/grf22LHvZB

— DanielFarkeNot 𝕏 (@DanielFarkeBall) August 7, 2025

What is Leeds United’s First Premier League Fixture?

Leeds United vs Everton | Elland Road, Leeds | Monday, August 18th, 20:00

How Can I Watch Leeds United vs Everton?

Leeds United’s opening clash with Everton is set to be shown on Sky Sports. While it is not clear which Sky channel the game will be broadcasted on yet, it is likely to air on either Sky Sports Main Event or Sky Sports Premier League.

What Are Leeds United’s First Five Games?

Leeds United vs Everton - Monday, August 18th.

Arsenal vs Leeds United - Saturday, August 23rd.

Leeds United vs Newcastle United - Saturday, August 30th.

Fulham vs Leeds United - Saturday, September 13th.

Wolves vs Leeds United - Saturday, September 20th.

When Do Leeds United Play Rivals Manchester United in 2025/26?

A rivalry with roots all the way back in the 1400’s, rising from the ruins of the War of the Roses, Leeds vs Manchester United always produces drama, goals, and animosity. Leeds also have a fiery rivalry with Chelsea, but given the geographical proximity between the two, Manchester United take the spot as main rivals.

Leeds United vs Manchester United - TBC.

Manchester United vs Leeds United - TBC.

Last Five Meetings:

- 12/03/2023: Leeds United 0-2 Manchester United.

- 08/02/2023: Manchester United 2-2 Leeds United.

- 20/02/2022: Leeds United 2-4 Manchester United.

- 14/08/2021: Manchester United 5-1 Leeds United.

- 25/04/2021: Leeds United 0-0 Manchester United.

Who is Leeds United’s Manager for 2025/26?

Daniel Farke first touch = 20

pic.twitter.com/HxTcfB0ddG

— Out of Context Football Manager (@nocontextfm1) September 23, 2023

Having failed to take Leeds back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, United fans were calling for Daniel Farke’s head last summer, and understandably so. With the squad and the funds at his disposal, defeat to Southampton in the play-off final was close to unacceptable.

But the German responded brilliantly to his critics. Bringing in some quality squad depth last summer, he curated a team that even to the blindest of football followers clearly had the quality to return to the Premier League with little stress - the only reason things became a little bit tight towards the end of the season was down to the astonishing form of both Burnley and Sheffield United, the latter of which fortunately fell off, allowing Farke to secure the clubs spot in the top flight next season.

Head coach of Leeds for over two years now, Farke knows the club inside and out, and will know exactly what measures to take to avoid becoming the Premier League's latest yo-yo club. He also has plenty of prior Premier League experience, as he took charge of Norwich for a combined season and a half back in the early 2020’s. With top flight miles in his tank, a calm demeanor and superb tactical flexibility, Farke is the man to take the club forward, and the criticism that still comes from his own fans will only stoke the fire in his belly.

Who is Leeds United’s Player to Watch?

Ao Tanaka

One of the many reinforcements brought in by Farke last summer, Tanaka immediately became one of the most popular figures in the squad with his gutsy performances and important goal contributions.

🪄✨ Ao Tanaka: The Conductor pic.twitter.com/ynnQjRBDX1

— Leeds United (@LUFC) May 25, 2025

Brought from Fortuna Dusseldorf for a bargain fee of just over £3 Million, Leeds fans knew they were getting a serious player after his all action displays in the German second tier, and they weren’t disappointed. Tanaka led the Leeds ranks for both tackles and interceptions per 90in 2024/25, and his positional awareness and foolhardiness in the challenge instantly endeared him to the Elland Road faithful.

Alongside Joe Rothwell, Tanaka was at the heart of a very effective Championship winning midfield, and while Rothwell may be replaced at some point this summer for someone with obvious top flight quality, there is no doubt in my mind that Tanaka will retain his spot in the centre of the park.

Leeds United 2025/26 Season Prediction

While Leeds have given their all in the transfer market, one gets the feeling that it may not be enough. Sunderland have amassed a staggering £140 million in purchases, while Burnley are breathing right down their necks with £120 million, making Leeds United's outlay of £100 Million seem inconsequential.

They have brought in what on the surface appears to be a few decent striking options in Nmecha, Okafor and Calvert-Lewin. However, the former two struggled to score at top sides Wolfsburg and AC Milan respectively, making their chances of netting a respectable total at the Premier League new boys marginal at best. As for Calvert-Lewin, he is rarely available for more than half a season thanks to a career of devastating injury lay-offs, leaving Leeds starting striker spot very much up for grabs. One of them must excel.

Elsewhere, they have brought in decent reinforcements such as Bornauw and Gudmundsson in defence, as well as Longstaff and Stach in the midfield. However, with the calibre of other players arriving at the other two promoted sides over the summer, Leed's signings just don't seem to quite have that x-factor, and we reckon the second-tier champions will be the latest side to drop straight back down to the Championship.

Football Park's Prediction: 20th