Credit: Imago

Daniel Lewis

Wed 13 May 2026 9:40, UK

Leeds United have reportedly locked in a two-year deal for Hidemasa Morita to join as a free agent this summer.

Morita first emerged as a target for the Whites earlier this year, with reports suggesting Leeds would first have to clinch top-flight survival.

Contrasting reports then appeared suggesting a deal was not as close as suggested elsewhere, but the saga appears to have taken another twist.

With Leeds’ safety being secured last weekend, it appears Morita has already committed to his Elland Road move.

That is amid a fresh Leeds transfer update on Morita emerging from abroad on Tuesday.

Leeds’ survival secures Hidemasa Morita transfer

Leeds sources suggested Morita may not even be a target for this summer’s transfer window, let alone the midfielder having already verbally agreed to sign.

But reports over in Portugal, where Morita plies his trade for Sporting CP, continue to push ahead with talk of a deal being locked in.

A Bola report that the 31-year-old has a two-year deal on the table waiting to be signed with the option of a further year.

Morita dreams of playing in the Premier League, it is claimed, and he intends to now sign said deal with Leeds confirmed for another season in the top flight.

Sporting have already been made aware that Morita has no intention of signing a new deal when his existing one expires next month.

Ruben Amorim once raved about Morita

Morita joined Sporting for a fee below £3million from Santa Clara in 2022 and has proved more than good value for money.

He has impressed over a number of seasons now and would attract a fee of eight figures if it was not for his contract being up.

Ruben Amorim managed Morita at Sporting prior to taking over at Manchester United and he loved working with the midfielder.

Speaking in 2022, Amorim said of Morita: “All coaches should train at least one Japanese player to understand what it means to be a player who is always ready to help the team.

“He apologises a thousand times a day; he’s very respectful; he plays in any position; he always wants to learn. I only have good things to say about Morita.

“Japanese players are increasingly entering Europe and he has a lot of technical ability. He came to play as a number six, he can also play as an eight.

“I’m very happy with him and I’m glad we chose him for the value he brought and the man he is.”

Amorim is right to point out that Morita is also versatile, having played in a few different areas of central midfielder – defensive, attacking and just a pure central midfielder.

However, he has been mainly used in a deeper role this season, which is likely where Daniel Farke sees him at Leeds next season.

That is assuming he does join which, if reports from Portugal are anything to go by, certainly appears to be the case.