(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media/Imago)

'Working to be back soon' – Second Leeds star set to miss opener vs Everton

Jonny is a University of Leeds journalism graduate who became part of the FootballInsider team in Spring 2024, and recently worked as Head of Media for Widnes Vikings Rugby League club. Writing as a freelance reporter and commentator for The Sporting News and StatsPerform, he has covered matches in competitions including the FIFA Men's and Women's World Cups, as well as the Champions League, Women's Euro 2022, Six Nations and the Rugby Union World Cup.

Published on:

28 Jul 2025, 9:26 am

Leeds United look set to be without at least two of their new summer signings in their Premier League opener against Everton.

Daniel Farke's side have been made to wait for their return to top-flight action as they welcome Everton to Elland Road in the final match of the Premier League's opening weekend, on Monday 18 August.

Leeds' pre-season preparations are well underway and Farke has already brought in seven new signings, four of which will bolster his backline with two new centre-halves, a left-back and goalkeeper all arriving.

Maximilian Wober's departure on loan to Werder Bremen had left Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk as Leeds' only centre-back options, but Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw give Farke four capable defenders to choose from.

Lucas Perri is Leeds' newest signing of the summer window (Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Sebastiaan Bornauw 'to be back soon' after instant Leeds injury

Although Bijol's £15million arrival from Udinese makes him an expected starter from the get-go next season, the Slovenian is set to miss Leeds' opener against Everton with a carried-over suspension.

Leeds will appeal the decision to punish Bijol for a second yellow card dismissal handed down by Serie A, but Farke has also been hit with the setback that Bornauw is expected to miss their opener with injury.

Bornauw made his Leeds debut in their first pre-season friendly against Manchester United, but hasn't appeared in either of their Germany-based matches since suffering a quad injury in a training session.

The Belgian posted on his Instagram story (27 July) from Leeds' training camp to reassure fans that he wouldn't be out for too long, and said: "Working hard to be back soon".

(Credit: @sebbornauw on Instagram)

Everton clash expected to feature new-look Leeds team

Football Insider Verdict

Rodon and Struijk may be a familiar-enough partnership for Leeds fans in the expected absence of Bijol and Bornauw, but the duo will likely be sat in front of a brand new goalkeeper in the form of Lucas Perri.

Gabriel Gudmundsson is also set to take up Junior Firpo's mantle at left-back, and further forward, Leeds could be on the verge of sealing their biggest signing yet with a deal close for Feyenoord's Igor Paixao.

Paixao would add star power to a Leeds side developing a Premier League spine, and if he can provide the attacking output he's shown at Feyenoord, defensive absences may be the least of United's worries.

Everton FC

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