Paraag Marathe shares new Leeds United transfer update after Ethan Ampadu contract announcement

Ethan Ampadu has signed his new contract at Leeds United in a wonderful start to the summer in LS11.

Paraag Marathe confirmed the news on Thursday, with his captain penning a new deal until 2030 to protect his future at Elland Road.

It follows weeks of speculation with Leeds previously only holding an option to extend it to 2028 in his old deal.

Instead, Leeds will be led into a second consecutive Premier League season by their Welsh wall, and he was delighted to get it done after finally finding a home.

That doesn't only benefit Ampadu though, with Daniel Farke also set to reap the rewards in the transfer market.

Paraag Marathe shares Leeds transfer boost to follow

Marathe met with media on Thursday, and it was a celebration of survival and things to come.

Speaking after surviving in the Premier League, all eyes were on the future, with Ampadu now at the heart of that.

Asked if this could attract bigger signings to Elland Road by Adam Pope on BBC Sounds, Marathe didn’t beat around the bush.

“I would hope so,” he said. “We’re a little bit different than we were last year, we were a newly promoted side coming off 100 points in the Championship and new entrance into the Premier League.

“We had to bring in a lot of players. This year, the bar is higher as we brought in 10 new senior players and there’s a lot of quality players getting quality minutes, and quality players not getting enough minutes either.

“So, this season and this coming window is about improving the squad even more, so it requires an extra level to be able to come into the squad and earn minutes right away.

"We will be pursuing players that do have that extra level to them.”

Ethan Ampadu deserves all the credit at Elland Road

You only have to take one look at social media after a contract announcement to get a feel for the reaction.

The reaction to Ampadu's contract told you all you need to know, the captain is simply a hero in these parts.

Ampadu swept up at the annual awards night in recent weeks, and following that up with a new long-term commitment is excellent news.

From his celebrations at the promotion parade, to that massive tackle on Enzo Fernandez when beating Chelsea, the midfielder is everything that it means to be Leeds.

Marathe is planning to use that too, with the 49ers ready to enter the market for a higher calibre of player.

It's not just about surviving again in the Premier League, Leeds and Ampadu are aiming higher.