Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Sat 9 May 2026 20:00, UK

Follow us on Google Discover

James Justin has confirmed that the 49ers Ownership Group aims to get Leeds United back to challenging for trophies in the coming years.

The USA-based group led by chairman Paraag Marathe completed their £170million takeover of the Whites in 2023, having initially purchased stakes in 2018 and 2021.

Leeds have progressed since the takeover, coming close to promotion in the 2023-24 season before winning the Championship in the last campaign.

Premier League safety can be secured with victory over Tottenham on Monday, with a big summer imagined at Elland Road.

Leeds’ owners appear determined to bring success back to the club, with Justin’s confirmation set to build the excitement.

James Justin on 49ers ‘end goal’ at Leeds United

Former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider last month that Leeds plan to spend £100m on new signings this summer, as the 49ers look to see progress.

The Whites were expected to battle relegation from the Premier League this season, but it has ultimately been rather comfortable for Daniel Farke’s side since an early-season blip.

The German had been under pressure following a run just three wins from the opening 13 Premier League games of the season, but the recovery since has been immense.

Leeds have lost just four Premier League games since the start of December, with safety now firmly in their sights.

Attention at Elland Road may already be starting to turn to the summer transfer window, with significant business set to be on the menu.

Leeds secured their first top-half finish in the Premier League since 2002 when they secured ninth place under Marcelo Bielsa at the end of the 2020-21 season, and Farke hopes to lead them back there.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post on Saturday, Justin said: “When you’re not Leeds, everyone doesn’t like Leeds. Realistically, everyone loves to hate the big boys.

“I knew a few of the players and the coaches and I’d been around the game, so I kind of knew what it was like, the stature of the club, and how it had been in the past, and the potential for what it could be in the future and getting back to challenging for things – that’s the end goal, I assume, of the ownership group.”

Plenty to be excited about for Leeds

There was some frustration at the end of the transfer window last summer, when Leeds had not reinforced enough in the wide areas.

Harry Wilson had been close to joining, but the deal fell through and the Whites have looked lacklustre in attack at times this season.

But there are plenty of positives to look back on, too. Anton Stach and Noah Okafor have been excellent going forward, with the German arguably among the Premier League’s finest midfielders this season.

Jaka Bijol has been colossal at the back, and Sean Longstaff, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Justin have proven themselves to be solid signings.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been the main at Elland Road, with his 12 goals earning many of the points behind safety for Leeds.

It is clear that the 49ers know what they are doing, and there can only be excitement awaiting Leeds in the future.