Van de Ven reacts as Leeds agree signing with ‘incredible’ message posted
Leeds United began July with a busy day of transfer business which included four confirmed incomings and outgoings.
The Whites’ Premier League opener is less than six weeks away after two seasons in the second tier, and Daniel Farke‘s top-flight squad is slowly taing shape with a plethora of further additions planned.
Leeds‘ 100-point and 95-goal hauls in the Championship will count for nothing once Everton arrive at Elland Road on 18 August, and 49ers Enterprises still have plenty of work to do in the transfer market.
The permanent signings of Joe Rothwell and Manor Solomon look unlikely after Leeds confirmed the pair would leave at the end of their loan spells, but the most significant movement on 1 July came in defence.
Leeds announce Sebastiaan Bornauw transfer
Tuesday saw Leeds finally confirm the long-anticipated exit of cult hero left-back Junior Firpo after the expiry of his contract, but another defender was already on his way to Elland Road simultaneously.
Leeds confirmed their third signing of the summer just hours after Firpo’s emotional departure message, with Belgian international Sebastiaan Bornauw signed from Wolfsburg on a four-year deal for £5million.
Bornauw becomes the second Wolfsburg player Leeds have signed this summer after Lukas Nmecha, and he posted on Instagram (1 July) to state that he was: “Incredibly proud to join Leeds United.
“What an honour to wear this shirt and represent such a historic club. Can’t wait to give everything on the pitch and feel the energy at Elland Road”.
The 26-year-old’s former Wolfsburg team-mate Micky van de Ven commented with a ‘fire’ emoji, while departing Leeds midfielder Josuha Guilavogui also said: “Welcome to My MOT Family”.
Leeds yet to address priority positions in transfer market
Football Insider Verdict
July may only just have come around on the football calendar, but Leeds know that they still have a number of problem positions to address if they’re to hit the ground running in the Premier League.
Bornauw adds further to Leeds’ central defensive stocks alongside Jaka Bjol’s arrival at Elland Road, yet the Whites are yet to get deals for a new goalkeeper and first-choice striker over the line this summer.
Nmecha looks unlikely to displace Joel Piroe up front next season and an upgrade on Illan Meslier is also yet to be found, with Leeds in a race against time to give Farke a competitive squad as the countdown to kick-off begins.