Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media

Jacob Raw

Fri 29 May 2026 8:34, UK

Leeds United have heard it all before as Ao Tanaka has opened up on how he thought about leaving the club this past winter.

Daniel Farke steered the Whites to Premier League safety this season, and with that, he had to rotate his side several times.

Tanaka wasn’t a regular starter throughout the campaign because of this, dropping in and out of the side, failing to be a consistent name in the starting lineup.

However, the Japanese international is still a much-loved figure at Elland Road, and someone who fans always want to see playing well.

But, Tanaka has spoken about leaving Leeds in the past, and his latest comments could act as some form of deja vu.

Ao Tanaka comments will worry Leeds fans again

Tanaka has been linked with a Leeds exit again in recent weeks, with Bundesliga sides said to be interested in signing the midfielder this summer.

Paraag Marathe has said that the Whites want to strategically improve once more this summer, and sales will be a part of this process.

In a recent interview opening up on Leeds exit rumours, Tanaka said, as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post: “There were transfer talks in winter, and I thought about leaving, but I still wanted to play in the Premier League.

“I even told teammates who also weren’t playing, ‘Just watch — my time will come.’ And it really did.”

His time did come at the back end of this season, but that was partly down to injuries that opened up space for him to start. Farke had no other choice, unless he wanted to play Sean Longstaff.

The bottom line is that the 27-year-old hinted about leaving last summer, and being so public about his feelings can be both a good and bad thing.

While his reasons for wanting to leave are understandable, it’s unsettling to know that such a player has had these thoughts about departing the club at different periods.

Will Leeds keep Tanaka this summer?

Football is a rollercoaster, and anything can happen, so even though Tanaka seems to be happy right now, that could change in the blink of an eye.

If anything, the midfielder has only increased his own stock by holding his own in the Premier League, hence the interest from abroad.

Leeds have reportedly set an asking price of at least £10million if they were to sell Tanaka, though it’s not currently known how open they would be to letting him go.

That figure doesn’t seem like a lot, all things considered, and it’s hard to say right now if Tanaka will be in LS11 come the start of next season.

If Farke were to bring one more defensive midfielder or positional eight to the club, it could see Tanaka finally give in and seek pastures new.

But, who knows?