Leeds United 2026/27 Season Preview
Premier League Blog
Detailed Leeds United Season Preview: Insights and Analysis
Where Did Leeds Finish Last Season
Despite pre-season worries ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season, Leeds United’s campaign went much better than some thought. Daniel Farke has had a recent past when it comes to dominating the Championship before failing to keep his side up in the topflight, but last season’s performance almost puts the Whites in good stead heading into the upcoming season.
A 14th place finish looked to be a brilliant performance, especially blowing our prediction of relegation out of the water, and they have been in the market getting their hands dirty again as they hope to build, or at least settle on what was a great return.
Leeds were far from good enough in the opening three months of the season, heading into a busy December with relegation looking very possible – however, some incredible form, especially from a once-doubted Dominic Calvert-Lewin, helped the Yorkshire outfit to an unbeaten month and then New Years, with a win over Chelsea and two draws to Arne Slot’s Liverpool.
It wasn’t just in the Premier League where they impressed, however, attaining a very strong run in the FA Cup. Defeating Derby County, Birmingham City, Norwich City, and West Ham United, it was only Chelsea at Wembley Stadium where they were knocked out by an Enzo Fernandez first-half strike.
After a strong year last time out, Leeds will hope to start on the right and avoid any of that “second season syndrome” malarkey.
Best Result: Leeds 4-1 Crystal Palace (Calvert-Lewin 38’, 45’+4, Ampadu 60’, Stach 90’+11; Devenny 90’+2).
Worst Result: Arsenal 5-0 Leeds (Timber 34’, 56’, Saka 45’+1, Gyokeres 48’, 90’+5 pen).
Who Have Leeds Signed in the Summer Transfer Window So Far?
IN
James Trafford from Manchester City – £40 Million + £5 Million Add-Ons
Tarik Muharemovic from Sassuolo – £34 Million
Nico Elvedi from Borussia Monchengladbach - £8.5 Million
Harry Wilson from Fulham – Free Transfer
Jean-Matteo Bahoya from Eintracht Frankfurt - £1.7 Million Season-Long Loan with Buy Option
Melvin Bard from OGC Nice - £1 Million Loan with Buy Option
Total Spent: £90.2 Million
OUT
Pascal Struijk to Brighton – £20 Million
Largie Ramazani to Burnley - Season-Long Loan with £8.5 Million Buy Obligation
Joe Gelhardt to Hull City - £6.5 Million
Isaac Schmidt to BSC Young Boys – £1.1 Million
Joel Piroe to West Ham United - Loan with Undisclosed Obligation to Buy
Willy Gnonto to Fiorentina - Season-Long Loan with Buy Option
Maximilian Wober to Schalke 04 – Free Transfer
Jack Harrison to New England Revolution – Free Transfer
Illan Meslier to Arsenal – Free Transfer
Karl Darlow to Manchester United – Free Transfer
Sebastiaan Bornauw to Hamburg - Season-Long Loan
Sam Chambers to Northampton Town - Season-Long Loan
Harry Gray to Sheffield Wednesday – Season-Long Loan
Sam Byram - Released
Total Received: £36.1 Million
Leeds 2027/27 Squad List
Goalkeepers: James Trafford, Lucas Perri, Alex Cairns.
Defenders: Gabriel Gudmundsson, Tarik Muharemovic, Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, James Justin, Nico Elvedi, Jayden Bogle, Melvin Bard
Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu, Sean Longstaff, Brenden Aaronson, Anton Stach, Ao Tanaka, Ilia Gruev.
Attackers: Mateo Joseph, Dan James, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lukas Nmecha, Harry Wilson, Noah Okafor, Jean-Matteo Bahoya
Leeds 2026/27 Home, Away and Third Kits
Home Kit
The new Leeds United 26/27 Home kit by adidas celebrates the 400th anniversary of King Charles I granting the Leeds Town Charter on 13 July 1626.
— Football Shirt Culture (@footballshirt) July 27, 2026
Read more: https://t.co/9XCh9oz5OD#lufc | Football Shirt Culture | Soccer Jersey | Camiseta de Futbol pic.twitter.com/x8HrfN8PUg
Away Kit
Leeds reveal their new away kit for next season, featuring the club's classic white rose crest and the iconic adidas Originals Trefoil logo 🤩🟡 pic.twitter.com/HzNS5zl4In
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) June 4, 2026
Third Kit
Inspired by the city we call home. 🩶🤍
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 20, 2026
Introducing the Leeds United 26/27 Third Jersey - available tomorrow, 8am BST pic.twitter.com/XSBQMpOPP9
What is Leeds United’s Opening Premier League Fixture?
Nottingham Forest vs Leeds | The City Ground, Nottingham | Saturday, August 22, 15:00
How Can I Watch Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea
Due to the 3pm Saturday blackout, Leeds United’s opening Premier League fixture is not due to be broadcast live in the UK.
What Are Leeds’ First Five Fixtures?
- Nottingham Forest vs Leeds - Saturday, August 22nd.
- Leeds vs Brentford – Sunday, August 30th.
- Brighton vs Leeds - Saturday, September 5th.
- Leeds vs Newcastle – Monday, September 14th.
- Leeds vs Crystal Palace – Saturday, September 19th.
When Do Leeds Play Rivals Manchester United in the 2026/27 Season?
The Roses rivalry is back in the topflight for another year, and with both sides making summer improvements, we could have some brilliant battles to look forward to add to the rivalries’ vicious past.
- Leeds vs Manchester United | Elland Road, Leeds | Saturday, October 17th
- Manchester United vs Leeds | Old Trafford, Manchester | Saturday, May 15th
Last Five Meetings:
- 13/04/26: Manchester United 1-2 Leeds
- 04/01/26: Leeds 1-1 Manchester United
- 19/07/25: Manchester United 0-0 Leeds
- 12/07/23: Manchester United 2-0 Leeds
- 12/02/23: Leeds 0-2 Manchester United
Who is Leeds’ Manager for the 2026/27 Season?
Daniel Farke
🤔 Is Daniel Farke satisfied with Leeds United's business so far?
— BBC Sport West Yorkshire (@BBCWYS) August 8, 2026
The manager spoke to the media after his side's 2-0 pre-season win over RB Leipzig at Elland Road.
Listen 👉 https://t.co/YEXOQ4hqUX#LUFC | #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/xa7lIxnks1
Farke is definitely in the good books of Leeds United fans right now, following an emphatic return to the Premier League, with their performance only bettered by Sunderland of the newly promoted sides.
The football Farke had the Yorkshire side playing last season was actually rather pleasing to the eye at times, and the results came with it – although in patches – as they soared to 11 wins, 14 draws and 13 defeats.
Although they haven’t signed many players this window, they have bought very smartly. Leeds responded superbly to the departing Meslier and Darlow, picking up James Trafford for a club-record £40m, bringing in Premier League proven talent in an area which can be crucial to their survival.
Bringing in more experience in Harry Wilson, as well as Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic, who impressed at this summer’s World Cup, there is no reason why the Chairman’s faith in German cannot be repaid with another strong showing this campaign.
Who is Leeds’ Player to Watch?
James Trafford
Leeds have agreed to sign James Trafford for $53 million from Manchester City, the fifth-most expensive goalkeeper transfer of all time per @David_Ornstein 🧤
— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 27, 2026
▫️ Kepa Arrizabalaga: $91M (2018)
▫️ Alisson Becker: $71M (2018)
▫️ Gianluigi Buffon: $60M (2001)
▫️ André Onana: $60M… pic.twitter.com/fUirTTdxYg
Realistically the player to watch has to be their record signing for the sole reason of the hefty price tag.
There is a reason, however, why Trafford has broken his own record to become British number one goalkeeper in terms of transfer fee. Coming up through the ranks at Manchester City, Trafford has found some serious success at youth level for The Three Lions, winning the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
He continued the brilliant form into league football for Burnley, helping them secure promotion to the topflight last season, before heading back to Manchester City. Unfortunately, Trafford wasn’t given the chance to impress ahead of the World Cup, as he was shortly replaced by Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain, but he has now found his way to Elland Road, where he will certainly have the chance to prove himself to the country.
Leeds United 2026/27 Season Prediction
It was quite a tight end to the Premier League table last time around, with the Whites just five points off a top-half finish, but just six off a relegation scrap.
However, overall Leeds looked really tidy for a majority of the campaign, and unbeaten spurts like they had in December is exactly what a club needs if they want to survive, and the way in which they showed their hand in the market this summer suggests Leeds are not just splashing cash anywhere and everywhere like Chelsea, but rather picking places which desperately need improving.
The trio of incomings, blended with the quality they already have suggests that Leeds have all the tools to continue their most recent stay in the Premier League another season. With the quality of stars added, dare I say they may even have enough depth to surprise once more with a deep run in a cup competition too.
If friendlies are anything to go by, victories over both Liverpool and RB Leipzig give reasons to suggest that Leeds should be very excited for the upcoming campaign, but we expect to follow a similar trajectory to last campaign following what has been a good window so far for many of the “middle of the pack” sides in the topflight.
Football Park’s Prediction: 15th
Harry Pascoe 
Alec Hayward 