Leeds United Close in on Lucas Perri as Seventh Summer Signing — A Statement of Premier League Intent
Leeds United’s return to the Premier League is being met with a show of ambition and purpose that few could have predicted. Having already made six high-profile signings across key positions, the club is now set to finalise its seventh acquisition of the summer — Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri from Ligue 1 side Lyon — in a deal worth £15.6 million.
Perri’s arrival marks yet another crucial step in what has been a comprehensive squad overhaul, as sporting director Adam Underwood and head coach Daniel Farke reshape the team to not only survive in the Premier League, but to compete with consistency.
With his arrival imminent — confirmed by sightings of the player at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport, reportedly en route to join Leeds’ training camp in Germany — Leeds United have addressed a key area of concern. The deal is not just another addition; it is the completion of a major piece in a puzzle that has been carefully assembled over the past two months.
🔍 Perri’s Profile: A Modern-Day Goalkeeper with Elite Potential
Born in Campinas, Brazil, 26-year-old Lucas Perri has had a steady rise in South American and European football. Originally developed at São Paulo, he gained early praise for his reflexes and footwork, eventually earning a move to Botafogo in 2022, where he flourished under pressure and showed leadership in a resurgent side.
In January 2024, he made the leap to Europe, joining Lyon for a modest fee. Despite the brief spell in France, his performances were enough to catch the eye of Premier League scouts. Tall, composed, and comfortable playing out from the back, Perri represents the modern goalkeeper archetype — equally comfortable collecting crosses and launching counterattacks as he is saving shots.
Leeds’ goalkeeper situation has been in flux since their relegation in 2023. Illan Meslier had been inconsistent, while Karl Darlow and Kristoffer Klaesson failed to cement the No.1 role. Perri’s signing is expected to put that conversation to rest.
💰 Leeds’ Transfer Spend Hits £80M+ — Perri Among the Most Expensive Signings
Perri’s arrival puts Leeds’ confirmed summer spending above £80 million, an astronomical figure by the club’s recent standards — and a sign of the board’s backing of Daniel Farke. The move for Perri is the club’s second-most expensive signing of the window so far, trailing only Anton Stach, who joined from Hoffenheim for £19.9 million.
✅ 2025 Summer Signings at a Glance:
Player Position Club From Fee
Anton Stach Midfielder Hoffenheim £19.9 million
Lucas Perri Goalkeeper Lyon £15.6 million
Sean Longstaff Midfielder Newcastle United £15 million
Jaka Bijol Centre-back Udinese £15 million
Lukas Nmecha Forward VfL Wolfsburg Undisclosed
Sebastiaan Bornauw Centre-back VfL Wolfsburg Undisclosed
Gabriel Gudmundsson Left-back Lille Undisclosed
Total confirmed: 7 signings, Estimated spend: £80–85 million
It’s worth noting that Leeds have not just spent — they’ve spent strategically, addressing key vulnerabilities that hampered them in both their relegation season and the subsequent Championship campaign.
🔄 Strategic Rebuild: Every Department Reinforced
Leeds entered the summer with holes across the pitch. Many players who arrived on short-term deals or loans last year have moved on, and several existing squad members were deemed surplus to Premier League requirements. The transfer window has thus far been a showcase of deliberate, needs-driven business.
🔐 Defensive Upgrades:
Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw bring physicality and leadership to the heart of defence.
Gabriel Gudmundsson, a technically gifted left-back, replaces Junior Firpo, whose time at Leeds was plagued by injuries and inconsistency.
With Perri in goal, the defensive unit now has structure, stability, and cohesion.
⚙️ Midfield Engine Room Revamped:
Anton Stach is a dynamic, box-to-box midfielder with Bundesliga and Champions League experience.
Sean Longstaff, poached from Newcastle, offers composure and Premier League nous.
These additions replace outgoing midfielders Joe Rothwell and Josuha Guilavogui.
🎯 Attacking Reinforcement Begins:
Lukas Nmecha joins to add depth to the striker role, as Patrick Bamford and Mateo Joseph are both expected to depart.
Nmecha’s speed, movement, and ability to play across the front line will be vital as Leeds transition back into a league where pace and clinical finishing are essential.
🧭 Next Steps: Leeds Target Two Major Attacking Signings
With seven new faces through the door, attention now shifts to the final two key positions Leeds aim to strengthen: a centre-forward and a left-winger. These are expected to be the most expensive signings of the window and will likely define the club’s attacking identity for the season.
🧨 Top Targets:
Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham) – Leeds are reportedly willing to spend £50 million to bring in the Brazilian striker, who impressed in the Premier League with Fulham last season. Muniz is seen as a long-term No.9 with the skillset to lead the line in a high-pressing system.
Igor Paixão (Feyenoord) – Valued at £30 million, the tricky left-winger has been a standout in the Eredivisie. With the ability to beat defenders, create chances, and track back defensively, he fits Farke’s preferred wide-forward profile.
If Leeds secure both, their transfer spending would eclipse £160 million, putting them among the top five biggest spenders in Europe this summer.
🏁 A Club Transformed — But What Does It All Mean?
The scale and ambition of Leeds United’s transfer window is a clear declaration: this is not a team merely hoping to survive in the Premier League — it’s one determined to compete.
This is the most aggressive transfer campaign since the club’s 2000–01 era, when Leeds were pushing for Champions League football under David O’Leary. The key difference now is smarter spending, a clearer long-term strategy, and the guidance of a head coach in Daniel Farke who understands how to build winning teams with structure and identity.
And unlike in years past, the recruitment this summer shows cohesion: most signings are aged 24–27, in their prime, and come with experience from top-flight European football. These are not gambles; they are investments in stability and performance.
📅 What’s Next?
As the final days of July tick down, Leeds fans can expect at least two more major updates before the season kicks off. The preseason camp in Germany will serve as the final testing ground to integrate new players, evaluate tactical systems, and build the kind of chemistry that the club lacked during its relegation campaign.
If Leeds manage to sign both Muniz and Paixão, they will enter the 2025/26 Premier League season with one of the most complete squads in the bottom half — and quite possibly enough firepower to aim for mid-table or even a top-10 finish.
🔚 Conclusion: Perri Signing a Signal of Seriousness
The signing of Lucas Perri is more than just a positional upgrade — it’s a symbolic move that reinforces Leeds United’s vision for the future. A young, ambitious Brazilian goalkeeper with the potential to be elite, arriving at a club now unrecognisable from the one that dropped into the Championship two years ago.
With £80 million already spent, and another £80 million potentially on the way, Leeds United are done waiting.
They’re back — and they mean business.