Credit: Imago

Mark Smith

Mon 25 May 2026 10:40, UK

Pascal Struijk has been a mainstay at Leeds United for years now.

In fact, nobody has made more Premier League appearances for the Whites since 2004, showcasing his importance at Elland Road in two promotions now.

His contract expires in 2027, with many questions already starting on the squad after they finished 14th in the Premier League and avoided relegation with ease.

Struijk has won the Championship twice under Marcelo Bielsa and Daniel Farke, and should he stick around, will start his fifth season of Premier League football in LS11.

So, the question remains, will he stay at Elland Road?

Leeds United want to keep Pascal Struijk

Going into your final year of a contract, players will know that they will either sign a new one or possibly be sold at the last chance to secure a decent fee.

The Athletic has revealed, via senior sources at Elland Road, that Leeds are keen to retain Struijk for another season.

Whether that comes with a new contract is unknown, but the defender is said to hold the cards.

Leeds did knock one bid back for Struijk last summer, and interest is predicted to be there again for the colossal defender, who has really found a home.

Although they want to keep him, should the Whites sell, they will look to bring in a fee that allows them to attack the market for a solid replacement and upgrade.

Who else needs a new contract at Leeds United?

Struijk isn’t the main priority; that has to be Ethan Ampadu.

The Leeds captain has been sensational this season again and swept up at the yearly awards night last week at Elland Road.

With Ampadu also out of contract in 2027, Leeds are already said to have opened talks over a new deal.

Struijk and Ampadu are critical to the spine of this squad, and the 49ers Enterprises will need to do everything they can to retain them.

Alex Cairns, Sam Byram and Illan Meslier are all out of contract within weeks, and they could kickstart the clearout in West Yorkshire, especially if the Whites want to kick on.

Cairns could stay, given his likely admittance that he won’t play and help with squad registering in the Premier League, with Karl Darlow, another goalkeeper who needs a contract.

Either way, Leeds need a huge summer of change.

If they don’t kick on after a positive season in the Premier League, they will likely find themselves left behind and in another relegation scrap, just ask Bielsa and Struijk.