On Sunday afternoon, Leeds United returned to Elland Road for what many supporters viewed as a defining fixture in their season — a home test against Aston Villa that arrived at a time of increasing scrutiny, rising tension, and mounting pressure on manager Daniel Farke. With Leeds slipping into the bottom three after a string of damaging results, fans hoped for signs of fresh ideas and sharper attacking play. Instead, Farke made just a single change to the side that had struggled in recent weeks, and it was one that only fuelled further debate.

Pascal Struijk came back into the starting XI, replacing Jaka Bijol, the £15 million summer signing from Udinese who has struggled to convince Farke that he is ready to be a fixture in the Premier League. The decision to drop the Slovenian was not entirely shocking — Farke has preferred Struijk throughout the campaign — but it was nonetheless another clear signal of Bijol’s position in the squad hierarchy.

Even more puzzling was the timing. Bijol had recorded an impressive international break with Slovenia, showing the composure, authority, and physical strength that had convinced Leeds’ recruitment team to invest heavily in him during the summer. He looked sharp, confident, and match-ready. Yet upon returning to West Yorkshire, he found himself back on the bench, with Farke citing Struijk’s “consistency” and “leadership within the group” as key factors behind the decision.

Struijk steady but not spotless

To his credit, Struijk delivered a solid enough performance against Aston Villa. He won the majority of his duels, kept his defensive shape intact, and attempted to bring calmness to a back line that has looked under pressure since the season began. But even the dependable Dutchman could not escape the one moment that ultimately defined the match.

Midway through the second half, Gabriel Gudmundsson — who has endured a difficult start to Premier League life — miscontrolled a simple ball, gifting possession to Villa and forcing Struijk to dive into a last-ditch challenge. His tackle was late, caught the man, and resulted in a free-kick in a dangerous position. That set-piece, as fate would have it, produced the winning goal.

Struijk’s reaction said it all: hands on hips, head bowed, knowing the consequences. It wasn’t entirely his fault — Gudmundsson’s error had created the crisis — but it hammered home the fragility of a Leeds defence that still looks disjointed despite heavy investment.

Aidy White’s blunt verdict: Was the Bijol signing necessary?

The debate around Bijol’s role grew louder after full-time. Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds, former Whites defender Aidy White addressed the issue with refreshing frankness. His questioning of the recruitment strategy struck a chord with supporters already frustrated by Leeds’ lack of attacking threat.

“He’s obviously shown something at Udinese — really good international player, captain of his country, he’s obviously got something,” White said. “He’s just not hit the ground running at Leeds United. That happens a lot of times, not just at Leeds. The promise of a new signing is massive for fans — ‘oh wow, we’ve spent a lot of money on him, he’s going to be really good’. A lot of times it doesn’t work like that.”

White’s comments weren’t personal toward Bijol, who has not been poor so much as peripheral. Instead, the criticism was aimed squarely at the club’s decision to spend precious funds on a centre-back who was not guaranteed to start. For a club navigating tight budgets, that kind of expenditure must be strategic — and above all, instantly impactful. This signing has not been.

£30 million on defenders — but where are the results?

The Bijol transfer cannot be viewed in isolation. Leeds spent heavily in defence throughout the summer, committing around £30 million on three players intended to bring stability and depth:

Jaka Bijol — £15m

Sebastiaan Bornauw — £15m

James Justin — similar fee in total, depending on add-ons

On paper, this trio looked promising. Bijol brought leadership, Bornauw brought aerial power and Bundesliga experience, and Justin brought versatility. But as the season has unfolded, reality has painted a very different picture:

Bijol has started 3 out of 12 league games.

Bornauw has 0 Premier League starts, and his only appearance came in the Carabao Cup.

Justin hasn’t started a league match either, used sparingly from the bench or not at all.

That means Leeds have committed a sizeable chunk of their budget to players who are not contributing meaningfully to their Premier League campaign. For a newly promoted club still operating with one of the league’s leanest squads, that is a damning level of inefficiency.

A squad lacking attacking edge — and paying the price

The consequences of this imbalance are now being felt in the final third. Leeds simply do not have enough firepower to compete consistently at Premier League level. With just 11 goals in 12 games, the attacking shortcomings are glaring. The team looks predictable, blunt, and often toothless, especially when chasing matches.

Lukas Nmecha works hard but lacks service. Brenden Aaronson plays with intensity but not always with penetration. Wilfried Gnonto has shown flashes but not enough substance. And the absence of a proven Premier League forward or top-level winger has been painfully exposed.

Even in the much-criticised Jesse Marsch era — during a season that ended in relegation — Leeds had scored four more goals at this stage. That alone illustrates how significant the current issues are.

Where could the money have gone instead?

This is where the frustration intensifies: Leeds could have spent differently. Had they invested less heavily at centre-back — perhaps signing one starter and one inexpensive rotational option instead of three major signings — they might have had £10–15 million available for the position they most urgently needed to strengthen: the attack.

The club could have realistically targeted someone like Harry Wilson, a proven Premier League winger, a set-piece specialist, and a consistent goal contributor. A player of that profile would have immediately improved the side’s threat, creativity, and fluidity in the final third.

Instead, Leeds built a defensive surplus and left themselves thin where goals are scored. Daniel Farke is now paying for that imbalance every week.

A deeper issue: an identity crisis on and off the pitch

This situation reflects a deeper problem that extends beyond one summer window. Leeds United are caught between two identities:

The bold, front-foot, high-energy attacking side they aspire to be in the Premier League
versus

The cautious, structurally-focused, financially restricted squad they currently are

Farke has spoken repeatedly about the need for “balance” and “stability”, but with the current squad composition, achieving that balance is impossible. Leeds defend in numbers but lack the explosiveness to break forward in transition. They control possession but struggle to turn it into chances. They keep matches tight but rarely dominate.

The recruitment strategy was designed to build a defence capable of surviving the Premier League. But survival requires goals just as much as clean sheets — and right now, Leeds are failing at both ends of the pitch.

The pressure on Farke intensifies

All of this leaves Daniel Farke in a difficult position. His game plans are being criticised. His selections are being questioned. His team are underperforming. Supporters are growing impatient. And the 49ers Enterprises ownership group, fresh from a major investment to bring Leeds back to the Premier League, will not tolerate a long-term relegation fight.

The German coach still retains significant goodwill from the fanbase, but performances like the one against Villa — spirited but ultimately ineffective — only add to the pressure.

What comes next?

Unless Leeds find solutions in the January window, this campaign could spiral into a long, grinding battle for survival. The decisions made in the summer — particularly the heavy spending on defenders who rarely start — risk becoming a costly mistake that overshadows the entire season.

The club desperately need balance. They need goals. They need reinforcements in attack. And above all, they need to ensure that future recruitment matches the immediate needs of the squad, not long-term hopes or theoretical depth charts.

Because right now, Leeds United look like a team built for the Championship trying to survive in the Premier League — and the warning signs are growing louder by the week.