Facundo Buonanotte signs: Can he make Leeds United debut vs Fulham?
Leeds United have made their first new signing of the winter window, with Facundo Buonanotte arriving from Brighton.
Buonanotte snubbed a move to Leeds in this season’s summer window, but the Elland Road faithful will forgive him as he’s now joined Daniel Farke‘s side on loan for the remainder of the season.
The Argentinian international instead penned a loan deal with Chelsea on summer deadline day, but has only been able to make one Premier League appearance for the Blues this term.
Leeds had been tipped to rekindle their interest in Buonanotte before the January transfer window opened, and after travelling up to West Yorkshire on Thursday, he is now finally in a Whites shirt.
Leeds fans could see first glimpse of Facundo Buonanotte against Fulham
Just days before sanctioning his Leeds move, new Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior told Buonanotte that he trusted him, after he started the midfielder in his first game against Charlton in the FA Cup last Saturday.
However, Buonanotte is understood to have pushed for the move to Leeds, having failed to crack Chelsea’s starting XI under Enzo Maresca.
He joins a Whites team that has found new life under Farke since his tactical tweak to a back three, and despite sitting 16th in the Premier League, are looking very capable of staying up.
Leeds are back in Premier League action on Saturday, as they welcome in-form Fulham to Elland Road in a 3 pm kick-off, but will Buonanotte have the chance to play his first minutes as a Whites player?
The answer to that question is yes, as confirmed by The Athletic’s Leeds writer Beren Cross via X following the announcement of his transfer.
Buonanotte should follow Brenden Aaronson’s lead in Farke’s system
Being an attacking midfielder who likes to drift in from the right, Buonanotte’s fit in Farke’s 3-5-2 approach isn’t immediately obvious.
However, neither was that of Brenden Aaronson‘s after this formation rejig, but the American has evolved from an attacking midfielder into more of a second striker in recent weeks, and he’s been playing some of his best football at Elland Road.
- Buonanotte made eight total appearances for Chelsea
- He scored one goal and provided two assists
- He’s made 50 appearances for Brighton and played 35 times for Leicester last season
Therefore, with Joel Piroe destined for the exit door and with Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor struggling for consistency, Buonanotte could follow Aaronson’s lead and help spearhead Leeds’ attack.
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