Junior Firpo digs at EFL with cheeky message to Leeds fans
Junior Firpo had a message for the EFL after another strong performance in Leeds United’s penultimate game of the Championship season.
Leeds will soon wave goodbye to the EFL for at least next season, after Daniel Farke’s side secured promotion back to the Premier League amid a five-game run of victories ahead of their final match.
Fifth-placed Bristol City barely laid a glove on Leeds in one of the most one-sided displays of the season at Elland Road, as United racked up 22 shots on goal with 12 on target over the course of a 4-0 victory.
Ao Tanaka’s opener midway through the first half didn’t quite open the floodgates, but after Joel Piroe found Wilfried Gnonto to make it 2-0, Largie Ramazani came off the bench to add a late brace of goals.
Leeds victory underlines Junior Firpo’s importance
Ramazani has been under-utilised this season but that didn’t stop the Belgian’s instant impact off the bench, when he tapped home Firpo‘s ball across the face after a typical run forward from the Dominican.
Firpo’s form at Elland Road this term has been crucial to the way Farke‘s attack functions, and that’s led Leeds fans aplenty to call for the out-of-contract 28-year-old to extend his tenure in West Yorkshire.
| Leeds United | Statistics | Bristol City |
| 3 | Goals | 0 |
| 3.70 | xG | 0.07 |
| 12 / 22 | Shots on Target | 1 / 3 |
| 74% | Possession | 26% |
| 11 | Corners | 1 |
However, Firpo was overlooked in the EFL’s team of the season as Sheffield United’s Harrison Burrows got the nod, and that resulted in more unhappy Leeds fans after Dan James was snubbed for player of the year.
Firpo saw the funny side however, and in a message to the club’s fans after what looks set be his last ever competitive match at Elland Road, he billed himself as “the second-best left-back in the league.”
Still thinking about that atmosphere yesterday night, what a game and what a group you don’t deserve less than that performance. But the job is not done yet, this group is hungry for more so let’s do it once more . 💙🤍💛
— Junior Firpo (@JuniorFirpo03) April 29, 2025
Yours Truly, the second-best left-back in the league 😂 pic.twitter.com/PpEA9ff8pk
Leeds face key transfer decision over Junior Firpo future
With Firpo, Sam Byram and Josuha Guilavogui’s deals all set to expire at season’s end, it remains to be seen if Leeds see any of the trio as capable of the step up to Premier League level ahead of next term.
Former Leeds keeper Paul Robinson told Football Insider on 25 April that Firpo and Brenden Aaronson are two current players who’ve shown they aren’t up to the standard, but Farke may feel differently.
Experienced scout Mick Brown also told Football Insider that Leeds are open to letting their left-back leave this summer, but with 30 June set to come around sooner rather than later, the Whites must make their decision as quickly as they can.