Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media

Declan Carr

Fri 15 May 2026 8:15, UK

Leeds United could reignite their interest in Union Berlin defender Danilho Doekhi this summer.

Daniel Farke will look to strengthen his squad with established stars in the summer after confirming Premier League survival early this season.

The Dutch ace has played 116 times in the Bundesliga and three times in the Champions League, so he has experience at the top level.

He is set to be a free agent when the market reopens, with the Whites able to pick him up on a free transfer should they pursue his signature again.

Leeds now have the green light to sign Doekhi, after a new revelation from Germany left the door open for a move.

Leeds have door opened for Doekhi free transfer

Leeds target Doekhi was widely expected to be available this summer, and his exit from the German club has now been confirmed.

The Berlin side took to X on 14 May to announce that the Dutchman will depart alongside Diogo Leite, Alex Král, Michael Gspurning and Silvio Thieme.

That opens the door for the Whites to swoop in and secure a free transfer for the 27-year-old, who they wanted to sign last winter.

Why Doekhi swoop is perfect for Leeds

A move for Doekhi makes sense for multiple reasons for the Peacocks.

For starters, he was described as a “powerful presence” by the official Bundesliga website in 2023, and Farke clearly likes that profile, judging by the fact that he signed Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw last summer.

The second reason is that he is available for nothing, which would leave the LS11 side with funds to bolster other areas of the squad.

They need to add quality, rather than quantity, and that requires increased transfer fees, which would perhaps leave the budget stretched unless they can find value, which the former Vitesse Arnhem man provides.

Finally, he is a towering figure at the back, standing at 6’3, and he has the stats behind him to back that up, winning 66 per cent of his aerial duels, per data from Sofascore.

He is also solid on the feet, making 1.3 tackles per game, three ball recoveries per game and 5.4 clearances per game, suggesting that he would fit right in at Elland Road.