The Championship season has come to a close and here is how every Leeds United player performed throughout the campaign.
Leeds United brought an incredible season to a fitting end on Saturday by clinching the Championship title ahead of Burnley in the most dramatic style possible.
An all-but-relegated Plymouth Argyle made Leeds work for it as they took the lead in the first half and continued to hold out for a draw even after Willy Gnonto’s leveller.
As the clock ticked into added time, it looked as if Daniel Farke’s side would let the title slip through their fingers but then Manor Solomon displayed incredible skill to score a last-gasp winner.
There will be a party in Leeds on Monday with the open-top bus parade to celebrate a return to the Premier League and a remarkable campaign.
Here’s how every player in the Leeds squad who was featured regularly this season rated.
Illan Meslier – 4
It’s not as though Illan Meslier hasn’t contributed to the campaign and made many good saves along the way but Leeds clearly would have been better off if he had been dropped much sooner.
His eventual removal after two disastrous mistakes vs Swansea City was the catalyst for the club’s late upturn in form.
Leeds have been incredible at the back this season – statistically better than Burnley – and without all of Meslier’s mistakes, the league would have been sewn up without the last day stress.
Jayden Bogle – 9
Ao Tanaka will likely be named signing of the season by many but it’s hard to look past Jayden Bogle in that category.
After settling in following his move from Sheffield United, the right-back became absolutely crucial to how Farke wanted his side to play. His boundless energy and relentless pressing provided the integral width to make Leeds an attacking machine.
With six goals and four assists, as well as playing in all but two league games, it’s been a sensational campaign for him.
Junior Firpo – 8
Junior Firpo has been an even greater attacking force on the opposite flank, racking up 10 assists this season, which is more than any other defender. With four goals as well, most forwards in the Championship would love his goal contribution numbers.
However, injury and foolish suspensions did see Firpo miss a significant chunk of the campaign, while he was a little more defensively frail at times as well.
Ethan Ampadu – 7
It’s been a stop-start season for the Leeds captain, who has seen a troublesome knee injury rule him out of 16 games in two different stretches. He also didn’t have the greatest success when played in midfield.
However, Ethan Ampadu has really impressed whenever he’s played centre-back, with his blossoming partnership with Joe Rodon the bedrock for Leeds’ promotion push. The pair are yet to lose a game when playing together at the back.
Pascal Struijk – 8
Though an ill-timed injury cut his campaign short, Pascal Struijk has been excellent for Leeds as they returned to the top flight.
Often captaining the side, in Ampadu’s absence, the centre-back formed a formidable partnership with Rodon and was largely solid throughout.
He also chipped in with five goals, including his massive brace to defeat Sunderland and one against Sheffield United.
Joe Rodon – 10
What do both those centre-backs have in common? They were always lining up next to the imperious Joe Rodon.
An ever-present in the side, Rodon has played all but four minutes of the season and has been the foundation on which a thrilling attack was built on. Heroic blocks, towering headers, well-timed tackles, he’s done it all alongside being brilliant on the ball.
He has been Leeds’ most consistent performer.
Dan James – 9
Only one Leeds forward earned a spot in the EFL’s Championship Team of the Season but at least it was the most deserving in Dan James.
He had a slow start to the season as an early hamstring injury derailed his opening few weeks but, upon returning, the Welsh wing wizard soon began to find his groove.
Though his final ball can still let him down on occasion, James has improved his output in the final third significantly to score 12 goals and set up another nine. His lightning pace remains invaluable.
Joe Rothwell – 7
Joe Rothwell turned out to be a solid addition but Leeds should be happy they only brought the 30-year-old in on loan.
He played a lot of games and brought good distribution to the side, but Farke probably hoped for more decisive contributions from the midfielder who will now return to Bournemouth, though there remains a chance he could come back.
Patrick Bamford – 3
It would be a shame if Patrick Bamford’s Leeds career ended on such a damp squib but injury completely waylaid his season, reducing him to just 325 MINUTES OF ACTION and no goals.
There were some positive signs when he finally returned at the end of the campaign that might earn him one last shot at the Premier League in the last year of his deal but, if he wants regular football, he will have to leave this summer.
Joel Piroe – 8
It’s strange not to be waxing more lyrically about the Championship’s top goalscorer but it’s been a perplexing season from Joel Piroe.
His 19 goals have fired Leeds back to the Premier League but, given the chances he has squandered, he should have closer to 30. In addition, his overall play at times has dragged the team down when he’s gone on long dry spells. Something that won’t fly in the first division.
Piroe has shown a lot of brilliance this season but it wasn’t consistent enough.
Brenden Aaronson – 5
Brenden Aaronson is another player to take part in every game this season and his reliability has been extremely helpful, as has his contribution of nine goals.
Yet, other than Meslier, no player is more likely to lose their spot in the side next season than the American. Out of Leeds’ 95 goals, the playmaker set up just two.
Though a hard worker, he just hasn’t shown enough creative spark in a crucial position to be relied upon in a much tougher league.
Manor Solomon – 8.5
It looked as if Manor Solomon wasn’t going to adapt to the Championship as he struggled in his opening appearances but he soon proved to be the higher-calibre difference-maker Leeds needed to get over the line.
Though the bulk of his goal contributions came in two bursts, the final one came in the crucial run-in, with Solomon scoring or assisting in six successive games as Leeds finally got over the line.
His crossing from the left, especially after cutting inside, has been consistently dangerous, though, and a return of 10 goals and 14 (he definitely set up Gnonto’s goal at Plymouth, even if it hasn’t counted) assists have been massive.
Leeds will be tempted to sign him permanently but, if they don’t, he will forever be a legend thanks to his title-clinching goal.
Largie Ramazani – 5
Farke publicly criticised Largie Ramazani’s lack of maturity in duels this season and the promising winger has played less than 800 minutes of Championship football.
Yet, even with such limited opportunities, he has still scored six goals and set up another two. Hopefully, he gets more chances but it feels like Leeds might look to cash in if Farke didn’t rate him in the Championship.
Mateo Joseph – 4
Leeds may live to regret not biting Real Betis’ hands off when they offered £10m for Mateo Joseph in January.
The striker has hardly played since the window closed and never took a chance when given a rare start. Scored just three goals in the campaign.
Ao Tanaka – 9
Many will have Ao Tanaka as their signing of the season and it’s a completely justified stance given the transformative effect he has had on the side.
The all-action midfielder was the driving force behind the side’s strong start to the campaign and worked wonders in the middle, providing defensive protection along with accurate, progressive passing and an eye for goal.
All for a paltry £3m.
Josuha Guilavogui – 5
Beloved by his teammates, with Gnonto hoping he gets another year, but Josuha Guilavogui contributed very little to the campaign, at least on the pitch.
Struggled in his two starts for the club in the FA Cup and his 16 substitute appearances in the league didn’t add up to even an hour. Guilavogui will surely depart this summer.
Sam Byram – 7
For a player who has struggled so much with injury over the years, it’s heartening to see fan favourite Sam Byram contribute so much this season.
He stepped up to the plate when Firpo was sidelined and, while obviously not as good going forward, he didn’t let the side down at all. Deserved to finally enjoy some success with the club.
Karl Darlow – 8
Karl Darlow has only played seven Championship games but his contributions in the run-in were invaluable.
His eventual usurping of Meslier brought composure and calmness back to a side that had lost all trust in its goalkeeper. Darlow’s cool competence was just the tonic to a flurry of mistakes and he settled the side back down to go on a winning run that secured promotion.
Willy Gnonto – 7
It’s been a season to forget personally for Willy Gnonto, who found himself warming the bench for the majority of it as the wait for him to reach his early potential goes on.
He has been firmly behind James, Solomon and Aaronson in the attacking pecking order and his chances have been limited. Yet, he has still chipped in with 15 goal contributions and shown flashes of his class. Especially in the final few games after James was injured, as he scored and assistedon the final day.
There’s still hope that he can reach the level he has promised.
Isaac Schmidt – 5
Isaac Schmidt has been Leeds’ most underwhelming signing, though that’s more because he has rarely had an opportunity to show what he can do.
The Swiss has been given just 71 minutes of Championship football but fans have liked what little they have seen with his positivity on the ball.
Max Wober – 4
An injury-laden season that saw him play just nine times.
Ilia Gruev – 7
Ilia Gruev’s campaign was trending towards disappointment as a knee injury saw him miss a massive chunk of it and his performances did little to make up for lost time, especially when Farke trusted him in big games.
However, he has put in a string of fine displays to close out the season and help Leeds secure promotion, which has seen him salvage his campaign.
