⚪ Leeds United Summer Transfer Report – Late June 2025
After narrowly missing out on promotion last season, Leeds United are now faced with a crucial summer window that could define not only the club’s 2025–26 campaign but also its longer-term stability. With multiple senior players exiting and positional weaknesses becoming more pronounced, recruitment decisions made in the coming weeks will shape whether Daniel Farke’s side can mount another serious push for the Premier League.
🧩 Where the Rebuild Stands: An Overview
Leeds United’s recruitment strategy going into the summer was already built on three core objectives:
Sign a new goalkeeper to replace Illan Meslier, whose future remains uncertain.
Add a creative No.10 capable of unlocking defences and increasing goal output.
Recruit a reliable striker to shoulder the scoring burden and lead the line.
However, these priorities have now been joined by an urgent need to address issues on both defensive flanks, following confirmed or impending departures. With Junior Firpo on his way out and Sam Byram’s contract expired, Leeds are entering July with just two full-backs available: Jayden Bogle (a right-back) and youngster Isaac Schmidt.
🔥 Full-Backs: From Thin to Critical
❌ Firpo Out, Byram Released
Junior Firpo is set to return to Real Betis, the club he left to join Barcelona in 2019.
The move, expected to be completed imminently, ends a mixed spell at Elland Road.
While Firpo showed flashes of attacking ability, injuries and defensive lapses cost him consistency.
Sam Byram, who returned last year as a squad option, is out of contract.
At 31, Byram has struggled with injuries and is unlikely to be renewed unless on reduced terms.
❓ Who’s Left?
With those exits, Daniel Farke is left with:
Jayden Bogle – Comfortable on the right, limited on the left.
Isaac Schmidt – Highly rated but unproven at Championship level.
This leaves Leeds with a full-back crisis:
No natural left-back
No experienced cover for either side
To contend in the Championship — a 46-game grind with relentless physical demands — Leeds must sign at least two full-backs:
- A first-choice left-back
- A versatile cover option capable of filling in on both flanks
👀 Mattia Zanotti: The Smart Solution
One player under serious consideration is Mattia Zanotti, a 23-year-old full-back who ticks several of Leeds’ boxes.
🇮🇹 Player Profile: Mattia Zanotti
Nationality: Italian
Position: Primarily Right-Back (can also play Left-Back)
Current Club: Lugano (Switzerland)
2024–25 Season:
Appearances: 41
Goal Contributions: 13 (goals + assists combined)
Style: Energetic, technically sharp, good crosser, capable in both defensive and attacking phases
Zanotti was a standout performer in the Swiss Super League last season, helping Lugano to a fourth-place finish and securing a spot in the UEFA Conference League. His ability to contribute in the final third is a major asset — and something Leeds lacked from both full-back positions last year.
🇮🇹🇩🇪 Transfer Interest
Leeds face competition for his signature:
Wolfsburg (Germany) and Bologna (Italy) are reportedly interested.
His price tag is estimated at £8.5m–£10m — a fair figure for a versatile, starting-quality defender.
🔄 U21 Euros Red Card
Zanotti featured in the Italy U21 squad at the recent European Championships, although his tournament ended with a red card in the quarterfinal against Germany — a match where fellow Leeds player Willy Gnonto was also sent off. Despite the exit, Zanotti’s performances for Lugano show his quality and temperament across an entire season.
🤝 The Alioski Advantage
In an unexpected twist, Leeds might have a secret bargaining chip: Gjanni Alioski.
🏁 A Fan Favourite Returns to Lugano
Alioski has just rejoined FC Lugano, the Swiss club he left for Leeds back in 2017.
His return was met with excitement in Switzerland, but it also adds depth in Zanotti’s positions.
Why It Matters:
Lugano may now be more willing to sell Zanotti, knowing they have a trusted veteran in Alioski to take his place.
Alioski retains a strong emotional connection with Leeds United and may even act as an informal bridge between clubs or influence Zanotti’s decision.
It’s an unusual but potentially decisive factor — and one that Leeds should look to capitalize on while other clubs focus on financial terms alone.
🔑 Why Zanotti Fits Farke’s System
Daniel Farke demands certain traits from his full-backs:
High work rate
Ability to overlap wingers
Composure in possession
Intelligence in pressing triggers
Zanotti fits this mold well. He’s:
Comfortable with the ball at his feet
Intelligent in his positioning
Dangerous in the final third
Adaptable enough to cover both full-back slots if needed
At 23, he’s also young enough to develop but experienced enough to start immediately — exactly the kind of player Leeds should be targeting in this window.
🔄 What Comes Next: Priorities Beyond the Full-Backs
🧤 1. Goalkeeper
With Meslier likely to move on, Leeds need a commanding, experienced keeper.
Options are being explored across England, France, and the Netherlands.
🎯 2. Playmaker / No.10
Leeds struggled to break down low blocks last season.
They need a midfielder who can:
Create space
Deliver key passes
Link up with the striker
Reports suggest Championship-proven No.10s and a few out-of-contract European options are under review.
⚽ 3. Striker
Patrick Bamford is no longer the player Leeds once relied on.
Piroe and Rutter offer support but Leeds need a starting-calibre striker who can:
Handle physical Championship defences
Score 15+ goals
Stay fit across a full season
Names have been linked from Ligue 1, the Bundesliga 2, and even lower Premier League benches.
🧠 Strategic Take: What This Window Really Means
This is not just a squad refresh. Leeds United are at a critical crossroads.
Promotion is the only acceptable target.
Financially, another year in the Championship increases pressure to sell top assets like Summerville, Gnonto, and Rutter.
The club must build a balanced, robust, and tactically flexible squad capable of enduring the Championship’s relentless grind and emerging from it with promotion secured.
Players like Mattia Zanotti, who bring versatility, energy, and value, are essential pieces of this puzzle.
🔮 Final Word: The Clock is Ticking
With pre-season around the corner and deals progressing at rival clubs, Leeds can’t afford to wait.
A move for Mattia Zanotti would be a statement of intent — targeting a young, modern full-back with attacking output, versatility, and resale value.
If Alioski’s presence at Lugano helps ease the deal, Leeds should act quickly and decisively. Because right now, the club doesn’t just need squad depth — it needs a clear vision, and players like Zanotti help define it.