Leeds United

Image source, Leeds United

Leeds United may have won the Championship and secured a place in the Premier League but it turns out there's at least one race their players couldn't come out on top in.

Three of the club's fastest players - Willy Gnonto, Largie Ramazani and Isaac Schmidt - took on the challenge of sprinting against a Red Bull Racing Formula 1 car, steered by F2 driver Arvid Lindblad.

The flying footballers initially looked like they may have too much in the tank for the machine in a race which went from penalty box to penalty box and back on the Elland Road turf.

The car easily won the day, taking control as all parties raced back to their starting penalty box.

Ramazani said: "The only thing better would be getting in the car. I love F1. I went to the Monaco Grand Prix last week, which was a bucket list moment for me. I used to play F1 games on the console when I was younger, so it was surreal to be next to a real car and race against it."

In May of 2024, Red Bull secured a minority ownership stake in Leeds United, and took over as their front-of-shirt sponsor.

Image source, Leeds United

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope says club owners 49ers Enterprises will have to be "cute and clever" with summer recruitment following a BBC article with football finance expert Kieran Maguire that suggested a £100m transfer spend could be possible.

Speculation over the funds available to Leeds has intensified since a US-based consortium, including the investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers, completed a multi-million pound takeover of Scottish Premiership side Rangers.

Chairman Paraag Marathe will work as Rangers' new vice-chairman alongside his existing position at Elland Road.

"The interesting thing for me is I read an article over the weekend pertinent to Leeds by Kieran Maguire, who is really good," Pope told the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast.

"He has looked at what everybody can spend in the Premier League and he mentioned Leeds might be looking at £100m to spend at the top end.

"This doesn't really go that far because they had two years in the Championship so this year of the three-year cycle they can afford to lose £61m.

"You can't spend wildly so people who are talking about what the owners are putting into Rangers and what they're not putting into Leeds - there are limits. £100m doesn't sound a right lot so they have to be cute, they have to be clever."

The podcast team were also keen to reflect on a day of celebration in the city before turning total attention to next season, after fans and players attended a huge Kaiser Chiefs gig on Saturday.

"The fact it was a whole day of celebrations rather than just jamming it into two hours was so good," Pope added. "The whole day felt like one big celebration.

"It has been a great year and this was the culmination of two great weeks following Leeds going up and the Bristol City game and then the Plymouth game to win the league with all the drama.

"It just felt like that period of celebration was all extended until this."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

After a two-year absence, Leeds United are back in the Premier League and attention is already turning to the new season ahead.

Over the summer, your Whites club page will be bringing you all the latest news, views and updates around transfers, players and the club.

So, with that in mind, we want to know what you would like to know about Leeds this summer.

Is there a player you want to know more about? Information on pre-season? What the club's plans might be in the transfer window?

Let us know here and we will do our best to find out

If you haven't already, if you're on the BBC Sport app, tap the bell icon and sign up for news alerts to make sure you do not miss a beat.

And if signed in on a browser, hit 'Follow' at the top of this page and you will start seeing more content about your club on your BBC Sport homepage.

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

On January 22 2022 when Leeds lined up against Newcastle at Elland Road, their bench consisted entirely of youth players.

Goalkeeper Kristoffer Klaesson was ed by outfield players Tyler Roberts, Lewis Bate, Joe Gelhardt, Leo Hjelde, Stuart McKinstry, Liam McCarron, Kris Moore and Nohan Kenneh.

Five games later, and after a run of only two wins in 12, Marcelo Bielsa was sacked.

That season was United's second back in the Premier League and it is still baffling there was not more investment after finishing ninth the previous campaign.

Strength in depth was a huge problem under Marcelo. The Argentine liked a small squad but his attitude and a lack of available transfer funds left Leeds lacking proper experienced back-ups.

Whites' owners 49ers Enterprises and Daniel Farke cannot afford to make this mistake.

Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe also knows the consequences of leaving business too late in the window.

Before last season's NFL campaign, the 49ers' negotiations with their wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk took almost the entire summer - meaning he was unable to train with the squad. Both Aiyuk's form and the team suffered.

Leeds must learn from the errors of the past.

In the out-of-contract Junior Firpo and Sam Byram, United know what they can expect. The pair are settled here and would be superior back-up to untested youth players.

Manor Solomon is another of last season's squad who it would make sense to bring back.

Meanwhile, Leeds have had a long-term interest in bringing Aston Villa's Emi Buendia to Elland Road. The player has worked under Farke before and a loan may suit both clubs.

These are the kinds of transfers that will add depth and can and should be done early, so the club can then focus on bringing in the quality needed to avoid a relegation scrap.

Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock, external

On the latest episode of the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix spoke about Patrick Bamford, who ed the band on stage to play guitar for their gig in Leeds.

Bamford told Rix that he does not have guitar lessons, and taught himself to play the instrument from watching videos on YouTube.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

BBC Sport pundit Nedum Onuoha has given us his insight and opinion every fortnight on your Premier League club throughout this season.

But this week, he's in the hotseat for your questions.

Maybe ask him who should be on your club's radar this summer, or where a rumoured target or new g might fit into the team.

Perhaps see what he thinks about how successful a new recruit might be, who it is vital to keep, or what is needed to make next season a success.

Send in your questions here and we'll put a selection to him

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport football news reporter Nick Mashiter has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Sean asked: Of the three promoted teams, which will survive if any and why? If so, who do you consider is in danger of dropping into the bottom three?

Nick Mashiter: The gulf between the Premier League and the Championship is only growing, as we have seen in the last two seasons.

The quality in the Championship has dropped over the last few years too, owing to a number of factors like Brexit limiting the pool of players. Although the introduction of the Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) system in 2023 helps. That allows clubs to sign foreign players who can make a significant contribution, even if they don't meet Governing Body Endorsement requirements.

There are others like the financial issues Covid caused - though they have ended this season - and Premier League clubs hoarding more players as the amount of games increases.

That's a small tangent...

Out of the promoted clubs, Leeds seem the strongest to survive. Daniel Farke knows how unforgiving the Premier League is after his struggles at Norwich and that experience alone - maybe he will adapt more - will help Leeds in any battle to stay up.

Follow the Q&A and the rest of the day's football news here

In the latest Don't Go To Bed Just Yet, the team look back on Leeds United rounding off their promotion party alongside bassist Simon Rix at the Kaiser Chiefs' Temple Newsam gig on Saturday.

There was a trophy lift and striker Patrick Bamford showed off his guitar skills as the team celebrated their Championship title.

Also on this week's show, Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Rix look ahead to what business the Whites could be doing this summer as they prepare for their Premier League return.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Having been in the Championship for two years out of the past three, Burnley may need to be conservative with their PSR loss limited to £61m.

Aside from Sunderland, the Clarets are the only Premier League side yet to go above the £20m mark in a single player purchase.

The Black Cats' return to the top flight via the play-offs comes with the knowledge they will be able to reinforce significantly for the step up in class that awaits.

Enzo le Fee's loan move from Roma in January included an obligation-to-buy clause and the French midfielder could well kick-start a recruitment drive with Sunderland in good financial shape.

"Since being relegated from the Premier League in 2017, Sunderland have not spent more than £10m in a single year on player gs, despite receiving parachute payments, and they have only made losses of £18m in the last two seasons," said football finance expert Kieran Maguire.

Leeds, who finished top of the second tier are in a less fortunate position.

"They will have to box clever in of recruitment," continued Maguire.

"Spending £100m is just about feasible."

Read more about the early transfer window and what each Premier League club can spend this summer

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for you to tell us what Leeds need to do in the summer transfer window.

Here are some of your comments:

Clan: I hope we don't fall into the trap of g 30-plus out-of-contract players who have been 'let go' by other teams. Yes, we will need experienced PL players but not ones who are already a yard off the pace and are usually injury prone!

Mark: We need to bring in established Premier League quality players. I would get Kalvin Phillips back where he belongs and Callum Wilson would be a good solid addition, as well as an experienced goalkeeper.

Andrew: We have a lot of attacking options, so the frontline, barring another useful, proven striker, doesn't need much improvement. The midfield should be built around Tanaka, and we desperately need a quality attacking midfielder to hold the ball and create/score goals. Bogle will need back-up in the RB position, and depending on who moves on we may need to look at wing-back options. The goalkeeper situation is an interesting one. Meslier is an excellent shotstopper but other aspects of his game are lacking. Darlow is a great all-rounder and has played in the Premier League. If Meslier moves on, we either need to trust in Darlow and bring a quality back-up in, or go the whole hog and sign a proven, high-quality goalkeeper.

Gary: First on the list of outgoings has to be Bamford. I can't understand why he is even in the squad, let alone being used as a substitute. Should have gone two seasons ago. Harrison next out of the door followed by Aaronson and Meslier. First g has to be Solomon, followed by the two deadly strikers we have needed since we were last promoted. It's vital to give Ramazani his chance and have Pirou as back-up.

Mark: We need to forget about 'marquee gs' because we can't afford the wages - yet. For this summer, it needs to be top prospects in their early 20s and decent, Premier League battle-hardened free agents in their early 30s. We nail five or six of those and we stay up. Forecastable income... and then we can start paying the big wages and look to creep into the top eight. It's going to be hard.

Mel: We all know we need to strengthen in certain areas on the pitch. The problem will be attracting players who know they will be in a battle all season to avoid relegation. We can't afford to have injury-prone players. We may be able to get some experienced ones with an incentivised contract ie. if we stay up they get a big bonus. I'm sure those searches/negotiations are already well under way.

Ian: Keep Manor Soloman, but don't pay more than £20m for him. A new goalkeeper, centre-back, number 10 and centre-forward needed.

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe is to take up a new position at Scottish Premiership side Rangers.

Marathe will work in the role of the club's new vice-chairman alongside his existing position at Elland Road.

The news comes after Leeds' owners, San Francisco 49ers Enterprises, completed a multi-million pound takeover at Ibrox led by private healthcare tycoon Andrew Cavenagh, who will become Rangers' chairman.

Marathe has been on the Whites' board of directors for five years, serving as vice-chairman for over two years before taking on the role as chairman.

He was a key figure in leading the club's ownership transition to 49ers Enterprises in July 2023.

Image source, Getty Images

The transfer window opens on Sunday - albeit for 10 days initially, mainly so sides competing in the Club World Cup can get early business done - before reopening for the rest of the summer on 16 June.

As Leeds head back into the Premier League, are there certain players you are desperate for them to sign, or an area of the squad that needs improving? Or maybe holding on to a key player is your biggest priority.

And what about sales - who needs to go?

So over to you... what names need bringing in and shipping out?

Let us know here

Image source, Getty Images

The BBC's Ask Me Anything team have done all of the research ahead of the announcement detailing next season's Premier League matches.

The fixtures for the 2025-26 season will be released at 09:00 BST on Wednesday, 18 June 2025 and the release will include the weekly schedule of all 380 matches.

The season will begin with a single fixture played on Friday, 15 August 2025 and conclude on Sunday, 24 May 2026, when all matches will be played at 16:00 BST. There will be 33 weekend rounds of fixtures, plus five midweek rounds.

The exact date and time at which individual matches are played during each weekend will be determined at regular intervals throughout the season, based on TV selections made by broadcasters.

Read the full article here

Leeds United and Everton are in the race to sign 33-year-old Newcastle United and England striker Callum Wilson, who is out of contract next month. (The Sun, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United will face Italian giants AC Milan at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on 9 August as part of their pre-season campaign.

The match will serve as part of their preparation before they return to top-flight football the following week.

Leeds have not faced the Serie A side since the 2000-01 season, when the Whites triumphed with 1-0 victory in the Champions League, and will mark their first visit to the Irish capital in nine years.

They will also host La Liga's Villareal earlier in the month after taking a trip to Sweden to play against fellow Premier League side Manchester United in July.

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

As Manor Solomon gathered the ball at Home Park, away at Plymouth on the final day of the season, the odds were against him.

Three Argyle defenders plus the goalkeeper stood in his way. But he wriggled and squirmed his shot through all of them to send Leeds back to the Premier League as champions.

The gamble United and Daniel Farke took at the start of the season to bring the Israel international to Yorkshire on loan from Tottenham had paid off.

The winner at Plymouth was the third winning goal he struck in Leeds' final six games (Middlesborough, Oxford and Plymouth), meaning he alone was responsible for nine points during the run-in.

Solomon has a history of rising to the occasion.

During Shaktar Donetsk's 2020-21 Champions League campaign, the winger scored both home and away against Real Madrid. A move to the Premier League on loan at Fulham proved so successful he secured a transfer to Spurs.

But a series of injuries stalled his career and there remains questions over his physical resilience.

From January 2022 to the summer of 2024, Solomon missed 50 games for Fulham and Tottenham combined, in a stretch that saw him out of action for more than a year.

But despite the injury risk, Leeds' decision to roll the dice on the Israeli saw him finish t-top of the Championship for the 'per 90' stats of goal-creating actions and non-penalty goals and assists.

Once he had settled and built a footballing understanding with his team-mates, when Leeds needed a hero, they looked to Manor who stepped up in big moments with a quality far beyond the Championship.

At 25, the winger is on the verge of his best years and has already shown glimpses of his enormous potential.

Now Leeds must do all they can to bring Solomon back to the club.

Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock, external

With the 2024-25 Premier League season coming to a close, we would love to hear what you think of this club page.

A huge thank you to those who have already submitted their responses and have interacted with the page in any capacity throughout the campaign.

We are continuously working to improve your experience and bring you the best possible content and coverage of your team.

It is your club and your voice.

So what do you like?

And what could be improved?

Send thoughts here

Lewis Deighton
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It's 'Final Eve' in the Championship play-offs as Sheffield United prepare to face Sunderland. That could have happened to us, but it didn't!

Eleven months on from Wembley heartbreak, Leeds United are back in the Joy Division not only as champions, but centurions no less.

Financially, winning the Championship play-off final is undoubtedly the best way to be promoted. Dubbed 'the richest game in football', the winner receives a minimum of £200m - while ironically, winning the league only earns roughly 10% of that.

Having money and knowing what to do with it are two different things, though. Southampton, who beat Leeds in the final last season, have gone on to record the most losses ever in a Premier League season - second only to Derby County for the worst points total, too.

After a month of celebrations from Elland Road to Home Park, I look forward to watching tears that aren't our own on the telly.

I don't envy any fan in that ground. I that sinking feeling when the full-time whistle blew and it was still there when I opened my eyes the following morning - only to see the Wembley arch from my hotel window.

For obvious reasons, it would be funny if the Blades lose - but I would also rather like the Yorkshire derby, so I'm easy either way.

Find more from Lewis Deighton at LUFC Lewis, external

Monday Night Club pundit Rory Smith believes a move to newly-promoted Leeds United would make sense for Jamie Vardy.

Vardy, who will leave Leicester City at the end of the season, told Sky Sports he has no intention of retiring and believes he can continue to deliver in the Premier League.

Speaking on who Vardy might be suitable for on BBC Radio 5 Live, Smith said: "I think he actually makes a lot of sense for Leeds if he can overcome his inherent Sheffield Wednesday fan status.

"The experience, there aren't that many proven goal scorers available. Leeds have plenty of goals in the team but they don't have a focal point.

"There's questions about whether Joel Piroe can make the step up. I think there's a logic to Leeds."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer

The BBC Radio Leeds 'Don't Go To Bed Just Yet' team pop down to the pub to talk stadium redevelopment at Elland Road and how it will impact the community.

Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix went to The Dragon pub in Wortley to look at a display of the plans and chat to ers.

They also talk about ticket allocations and how they will be divided up.

You can listen to the latest episode and past editions on BBC Sounds.

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

Image source, Rex Features

Leeds have been linked in recent days with out-of-contract players with Premier League experience and, among fans, the names have provoked a mixed response.

This is arguably the most important transfer window in the club's history and United must make every single g count if they are to cement their place in England's top tier next season.

So caution is justified, but free agents have worked for Daniel Farke in the past.

In his first season in charge, Farke brought Sam Byram back to the club. An academy product, Byram's time away from Yorkshire was ravaged with injuries.

When rumours emerged of a potential return, some questioned whether his best days were behind him.

But in the past two seasons Byram has played almost as many league games (69) as he did in total during his eight years away from Leeds (80), and he has been a solid performer.

And when Ethan Ampadu and Illia Gruev got injured within the space of 70 minutes of football last September, United went looking for an emergency defensive midfielder and signed out-of-contract Josuha Guilavogui.

In Guilavogui they found more than a back-up player. The farewell messages written on his final matchday shirt indicate the impact he had on team morale.

Brenden Aaronson wrote: "Best mate, best player here, love you g", Jayden Bogle wrote: "The best human I have ever met", another wrote: "My brother, leader, legend, what a man you are mate".

There is caution among the fan base and rightly so about some of the names Leeds have been linked with over the past few weeks - and an acceptance that Leeds need to be shopping in a different market than previous seasons.

But with a young side, Premier League experience is needed and hard to come by, and Leeds must trust Farke to find the right characters for the squad.

Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock, external

Image source, Rex Features

Leeds United have said captain Ethan Ampadu "had no responsibility" for a photo posted on social media of his young son wearing a Galatasaray shirt.

Two Leeds fans, Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus, were stabbed to death in Istanbul on the eve of the Uefa Cup semi-final match between Leeds and Galatasaray in 2000.

The Championship title winners said in a statement that the Wales international had separated from the boy's mother "several months ago" and "has the full of everybody at Leeds United".

They added that Ampadu was "aware of and sensitive to the tragic loss within the Loftus and Speight families".

"The club asks for Ethan's privacy to be respected in what is a difficult time for him personally," they said., external

"Our captain has been a leader on and off the pitch this season, demonstrating his commitment to the club, its history, and the broader Leeds community."