Leeds United’s best-ever deadline day deals: Raphinha and the controversial signing
Leeds United’s business has been questionable so far this summer under the 49ers.
Multiple holes still need to be filled within Daniel Farke’s squad if Leeds want to have any chance of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.
Anton Stach looks to be a quality addition so far, but others have failed to impress this far.
With Paraag Marathe suggesting Leeds will conduct business late into the window, deadline day could be a hectic one for the Elland Road faithful.
Here, MOT Leeds News brings you the Whites’ best-ever deadline day signings from the past.
Raphinha a major Elland Road hit
Raphinha completed his move from Rennes to Leeds back in 2020 on deadline day for around £17million, and it’s fair to say that United supporters were not aware of the gem they had just uncovered.
Initially, the Brazilian was slowly embedded into Marcelo Bielsa’s side as most new signings were, but when the winger finally broke into the team on the right wing, he never looked back.
Raphinha was excellent for Leeds in his debut campaign as the Whites finished ninth in their first season back in the Premier League.
His second season at Elland Road showed just how good he was. When Leeds struggled with injuries and bizarrely chose to sack Marcelo Bielsa midway through the season – one of the worst decisions in the West Yorkshire club’s recent history – Raphinha blocked out all of the chaos and single-handedly kept Leeds in the Premier League.
- The Brazilian had six goals and nine assists to his name in his first Premier League campaign with Leeds
- In a struggling Leeds side in the 2021/22 campaign, Raphinha scored 11 goals and provided three assists to help keep the Whites up
- Raphinha is one of Leeds’ best players in the club’s recent history
The pictures of him in the away end with Leeds supporters on the final day as they beat Brentford to stay in the division will be immortalised in West Yorkshire forever, before he made the move to Barcelona.
Dan James has stood the test of time
At one point, James looked to be the one that got away when it came to Leeds’ signings as the then-Swansea winger ended up at bitter rivals Manchester United after previously being on the verge of signing for the Whites in 2019.
However, after two seasons in Manchester, James made the smart decision to swap Old Trafford for Elland Road in 2021, and the Welsh winger has gone on to be a fan favourite at Leeds.
Whilst he was forced to play as a makeshift striker due to injuries under Bielsa, before Jesse Marsch shipped the winger out on loan to Fulham in 2022, we saw the real James when he returned to West Yorkshire under Daniel Farke.
- James scored 12 goals and provided nine assists last season as Leeds won promotion to the Premier League
- This form led him to be voted by supporters as the club’s Player of the Season for the 2024/25 campaign
During his two seasons in the Championship with the Whites, the Wales international established himself as a regular on the right wing and played a crucial role in helping Leeds regain their Premier League status, justifying his £25million price tag all those years ago.
It was a controversial transfer given the hatred between Leeds and Man United, but one that has proved value for money.
Stephen Warnock another impressive last-minute deal
Whilst Warnock was not the flashiest signing, the left-back became a regular during a turbulent spell at Leeds and was a solid piece of business in a time when that was a rarity for United.
The defender arrived on the final day of January in 2013 on a free transfer and eventually became the club captain.
- Warnock made 67 appearances across his three seasons at Leeds
- The defender even managed to chip in with three goals
In a largely forgettable period in the Elland Road club’s history, Warnock helped to steady the ship and will always be remembered for that goal against Yeovil that was definitely not because of the wind.
Illan Meslier a Leeds hit even if he has his detractors
Although his name may send shivers down the spine of Leeds supporters right now, Meslier was once regarded as one of the brightest goalkeeper prospects in Europe.
Meslier could still leave Leeds this summer after multiple disappointing campaigns in a row, but his form when he first arrived earns him a place on this list.
The Frenchman came in in place of Kiko Casilla for the final ten games of the promotion-winning campaign under Bielsa back in 2020.
Meslier then followed it up with an impressive Premier League season as the Whites finished three points away from the European positions on their first season back in the big time in 2020/21.
- Meslier kept 11 clean sheets in Leeds’ first season back in the Premier League
The shot-stopper initially joined on loan on deadline day back in 2019, and his early form in West Yorkshire, along with his two Championship winners’ medals, earns him a place on this list.
Willy Gnonto a massive fan favourite
Gnonto initially signed for United in 2022 from FC Zurich in Italy for just £4million.
At 21, it’s easy to forget how young the winger is and how long he’s been contributing to the Whites’ starting XI.
As a teenager, Gnonto featured 24 times for Leeds in the Premier League before they were relegated.
After looking to force a move out of the club in 2023, Gnonto underwent one of the biggest redemption arcs in Leeds’ recent history as he ended up staying and becoming a crucial part of Farke’s side that ultimately ensured Leeds returned to the Premier League.
- Gnonto made a combined 79 Championship appearances over two seasons to help Leeds win promotion
If the Italian can follow up on the nine goals he scored in United’s promotion-winning campaign with something similar to help Leeds avoid the drop this season, then he will further cement his place on this list.
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