Junior Firpo eyed to play in new position in major Leeds United exit twist
Junior Firpo is out of contract at Leeds United at the end of June, with an exit seemingly on the cards.
The Dominican Republic international moved to Elland Road from Barcelona in the summer of 2021.
He has since been the first-choice left-back, even though his performances have not been consistent and he has faced issues with his fitness.
Lazio sporting director wants Firpo to play as a winger
According to Il Messaggero, Angelo Mariano Fabiani, the Lazio sporting director, is evaluating a move for Firpo.
It’s understood that he views the 28-year-old defender as a winger and that’s the new role he could feature in should he move to Italy.
| Championship stats 2024/25 | Junior Firpo |
| Appearances | 32 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 10 |
| Yellow cards | 7 |
The former Real Betis left-back is not short on options either and a return to Spain is also understood to be a possibility as things stand.
Firpo even had offers from clubs in England, but that’s not understood to be his priority.
His agent is holding talks, so an exit certainly seems to be on the cards and it’s fair to assume he’s played his final game for Leeds.
Leeds United need to sign an upgrade on Firpo
Leeds must seek a left-back superior to Firpo to avoid Premier League relegation next season, as his form, fitness and defensive weaknesses have been exposed at the top level.
Despite flourishing in the Championship with 14 goal contributions in 2024/25, Firpo’s Premier League record is concerning, with only 43 appearances across two seasons marred by injuries and inconsistent performances.
His defensive frailties, highlighted by pundits and fans, include poor one-on-one defending and positional errors, notably exploited by teams with pacey wingers targeting his flank.
Firpo’s injury history underscores his unreliability over a gruelling Premier League campaign.
While his attacking output is notable, his defensive shortcomings and lack of pace make him a liability against elite opposition, as seen in Leeds’ 2022/23 relegation.
To ensure defensive stability and depth, Leeds need a more robust, defensively sound left-back to complement their attacking style and survive the Premier League’s intensity.