Phillips and Raphinha react as Costa leaves Leeds on loan for Valencia
Leeds United attacker Helder Costa has joined Valencia on loan for the rest of the season, with the Portuguese completing the move on deadline day.
As confirmed on the club’s official website, there is an option for the 27-year-old to sign permanently at the La Liga club at the end of the agreement.
Costa’s teammates at Elland Road will miss him, and Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha have both taken to their personal Instagram account to send him their best wishes for the campaign in emotional posts.
The Brazilian posted: “Boa Sorte meu irmao…Que Deus abencoe essa tua caminhada.”
That translates as: “Good Luck my brother…May God bless this walk of yours.”
Bye-bye?
Costa joined Leeds from Wolverhampton Wanderers initially on loan in the summer of 2019 and was key to their Premier League promotion, scoring four goals and assisting another four in 43 Championship games.
He played in 22 top-flight games last term, scoring thrice and assisting thrice, but has failed to nail down a regular starting berth and struggled with consistency.
The addition of Welsh attacking midfielder Daniel James from Manchester United meant the Portuguese had further dropped down head coach Marcelo Bielsa’s pecking order, and an exit was good for both parties.
Leeds fans may have seen the last of Costa in their colours, though, and not many of them would mind.
Having included an option for him to leave Elland Road permanently, the club clearly have no plans for the winger going forward, and he will now look to impress at Valencia and earn a permanent deal next summer.
A change of environment could bring out the best in him, and Costa could hit the ground running in the Spanish top-flight.
In other Leeds news, pundit wanted Whites to seal big eleventh hour move for major signing on deadline day.