The euphoria of concluding the season as champions of the championship and a victory parade celebrated by a fan base that swamped the city centre has now diminished as the transfer window has reached its conclusion.
Leeds United and Paraag Marathe had promised a bounty of Premier League quality signings that would ensure the clubs survival in the top flight. Some of the more optimistic members of the fanbase dared even to speculate that mid table or even conference league could be a possibility.
"History shows there's always a lot of activity in the last few weeks of the window" 👀
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 18, 2025
Leeds Chairman Paraag Marathe speaks about his ambitions for Leeds this season 🔊 pic.twitter.com/oViLQvXPcI
Optimism
The window started well ostensibly. Mnecha on a free then Bijol for £15m, Bornauw for £5m and Gudmundson for £10.3m. The saga of Longstaff for £12m and the coup of Anton Stach for 17m. It all appeared sensible. Defensive improvements and cover with big, tall and strong players. A new left back and a midfield workhorse. £60m on 6 players.
Leeds bought Lucas Perri for 15+m as replacement for Mellier and have signed James Justin for left and right back cover at £10m.
Reality
But the need for gamechangers was always going to be an unavoidable necessity. The weeks that were invested in the pursuit of Igor Paixao and the assumption that Rodrigo Muniz was destined for Elland Road had significantly stalled momentum.
Available gamechangers were disappearing quickly. Habib Diarra signed for Sunderland for more than Leeds were prepared to pay and then Noah Sadiki quickly followed. Arnauld Kalimuendo and Nikola Krstovic had gone elsewhere and talk of Aleksandar Mitrovic quickly disappeared.
And so it appears at this moment in time that Dominic Calvert Lewin (Free) is to be the dynamic target man to spearhead the Leeds attack with the able assistance of Noah Okafor (£17m) providing the penetrative assaults on the left if suitable free agents are not to be forthcoming.
Consequences
If the evidence presented at Hillsborough in the Carabao cup is anything to go by, Leeds United are in for a torrid time as the premiership season ensues. Okafor started for the first time following his arrival from AC Milan and quickly demonstrated how difficult it really is to secure the services of a gamechanger.
Anyone hoping to have discovered the new Raphinha quickly realised that missing out on Paixao could be the biggest mistake of the window. Similarly, the appearance of Dominic Calvert Lewin in the second half would have probably provided Patrick Bamford with genuine optimism towards the possibility of an unexpected reprieve before he and the club finalised his departure.
Although a distinct improvement from defence and midfield, Newcastle at home further emphasised the impotence of our forward armoury as the international break introduced its first interminable hiatus to premiership proceedings.
A Kick in the Transfer Windows
The harsh reality of the state of play concerning this transfer window is truly terrifying. Everton and Newcastle apart, Leeds United had been woeful in two games since opening day. Not one of the new arrivals had avoided criticism. Nearly £100m invested in a squad that at times looked like it would struggle in League 1.
Up until Newcastle where Longstaff was man of the match, only Stach and Gudmundson had demonstrated any discernible quality and both were simply outclassed at Arsenal.
With the departure of Largie Ramazani on loan to Valencia, excitement in the final third is likely to be a rare commodity. Penetration and creative flair has rarely surfaced as the memories of Manor Solomon already haunt the desperate faithful. The fiasco surrounding Facundo Buonanotte and Harry Wilson sounded the death knell to hopes of salvaging the window or the reputation of the 49'rs and Paraag Marathe.
If cohesion cannot be realised, the last minute gamechangers that were not forthcoming have very likely rended this season over before it has barely begun.
