Credit: Imago

Declan Carr

Mon 23 March 2026 19:10, UK

Mateo Joseph has admitted that he is open to leaving Leeds United in the summer.

The Spanish striker has had a tough time at Elland Road, making 73 appearances for the Whites, with six goals and four assists.

He has spent this season on loan at Real Mallorca, and he is clearly enjoying his time back in his homeland, away from Daniel Farke’s side.

Leeds will have a decision to make on Joseph, whether to keep him or to grant his wish to move on, when the transfer market reopens.

What is Joseph’s contract situation at Leeds?

Joseph’s future will be one of the biggest Leeds talking points, when clubs can start to sign players again in the summer.

He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract when he joined the Whites, which was supposed to run until June 2025.

The 22-year-old agreed a new deal in January 2024, which means his current deal will expire on 30 June 2028.

That deal is understood not to contain a release clause, so he could potentially stay in Yorkshire for another two years when he returns.

What has Joseph said about the situation?

Joseph has confirmed his desire to stay with the Pirates beyond the end of the current campaign, but admitted that it will be up to the LS11 club to make the final decision on his future.

In an interview with Spanish media outlet Ultima Hora, he said: “I’d like to continue being happy here. When you’re happy somewhere, why change? 

“It doesn’t depend much on me because I have a contract with another club. We’ll see what the future holds for me.”

It is likely that he prefers the key player status that he is enjoying with the Spanish side, rather than being frozen out of Farke’s plans.

Why an exit seems like the most likely scenario

Leeds previously rejected a figure of £10million in February 2025 from Real Betis to sell the young forward, and they could surely demand more, given his contract status.

The extension that he signed in 2024 gives the Thorp Arch side a lot more leverage when it comes to negotiations over a potential exit.

After his latest admission, a departure seems inevitable, especially as he refused to train last summer in order to force a move.

Farke will surely not want to keep a player with that attitude around, so it feels like the right move for all parties if he leaves permanently as soon as possible.