Leeds fans explode at ‘crazy’ Charlie Cresswell transfer news
Charlie Cresswell’s career could be set for an “excellent” move which doesn’t reflect very well on Leeds United.
Daniel Farke was happy for Leeds to accept a £3.8million bid from Toulouse last summer after the Thorp Arch academy product fell out of favour under the German in 2023/24, and only featured seven times.
The 22-year-old soon fell behind Pascal Struijk and new arrival Joe Rodon in the pecking order at Elland Road after Farke took charge, and Ethan Ampadu was preferred at centre-back after Struijk’s absence.
Cresswell’s switch to Ligue 1 in 2024 has proven a successful one and he has kept his place in England’s Under-21s side despite a move away from England, coinciding with Leeds’ return to the Premier League.
Imminent Cresswell transfer leaves Leeds with silver lining
Leeds may have only brought in £3.8m from Cresswell’s sale to Toulouse, but Rodon’s arrival for £10m as part of Archie Gray’s move to Tottenham proved to be a similar bargain in United’s title-winning season.
However, Cresswell could be set for an even bigger transfer just 12 months on from his Elland Road exit, after Gianluca Di Marzio reported via X (17 June) that Cesc Fabregas wants to sign him for Como.
The Serie A side are in “advanced negotiations” with Toulouse over a move for the 22-year-old and are ready to part with a £14.5m fee for Cresswell, a huge increase on the fee Leeds received a year ago.
Leeds are in line to receive £1.5m of Cresswell’s transfer fee after they inserted a 15 per cent sell-on clause into the deal with Toulouse, but some fans are disappointed that they won’t yield his full value.
#Calciomercato | @Como_1907, trattativa avanzata per Charlie #Cresswell del #Tolosa. @SkySport
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) June 17, 2025
49ers called out by Leeds fans after another ‘excellent waste’
Cresswell’s mere 14 appearances across four seasons as part of Leeds’ first-team suggests that he never made the grade at Elland Road, but several supporters were unhappy with Farke‘s handling of him.
Farke will arguably be on borrowed time as soon as Leeds’ Premier League campaign kicks off against Everton on 18 August, and some supporters said he should’ve given Cresswell more first-team chances.
Comparisons were made to the development of Phil Foden at Man City as fans lambasted the “excellent waste of youth talent” by Leeds, and acknowledged that 49ers Enterprises need to prevent similarly talented players from falling through the net on the cheap.
Didn’t see the point in selling Charlie a very good young CB needed a manager who could get the best from him Farke wasn’t and isn’t that manager I will be surprised if he last 10 games in the PL
— John Evans (@evans1951) June 18, 2025
That Charlie Cresswell looks a good deal at $13m.
— kiwiwhite (@Neiljackson123) June 18, 2025
Maybe Leeds should be in for him.
Como looking to sign Charlie Cresswell from Toulouse with an initial offer of €15m, 1 year after Leeds sold him to Toulouse for €4.5m
— Ben Mattinson (@Ben_Mattinson_) June 18, 2025
Surprised he wasn’t given a chance at Leeds because his potential was clear to see from youth level, especially after a strong loan at Millwall https://t.co/VKN4QmaYJB pic.twitter.com/XyspCECvIY
The thing with Cresswell was dvery Leeds fan could see he was gonna be a great defender and we still sold him.
— mickc (@mickyc123) June 18, 2025
Even if he ain’t good enough. Well run youth systems don’t sell England u21 internationals for 2.5m.
— Tom – #49ers in? (@tom_leeds_90) June 17, 2025
He should have been loaned out to build his stock, then if he isn’t good enough for Leeds you sell him.
There’s been too many of these now. 49ers need to sort it.
Excellent waste of youth talent again by Leeds. We’re so bad at managing our youth players careers, its crazy.
— Tom – #49ers in? (@tom_leeds_90) June 17, 2025
It’s why PSR is not fit for purpose. He was on a new 5 year deal. It would have made more sense to loan him for a year. Instead psr means the hit for selling youth is the best bang for buck. It is likely where we are now with MJ presently. System is broken
— Leigh Mather (@Whiper11) June 18, 2025
With that sort of thinking, players like Foden should have been sold by City.
— TommyLad (@TomRalph1) June 18, 2025
When you have tremendous talent, you don’t just bomb them out of the club because they don’t perform at their first opportunity.