Leeds United will return to the Premier League as Championship champions but who was their best signing of the season?
Two weeks of celebration is only going to continue after Leeds United secured the Championship title on the final day on their way back up to the Premier League.
Daniel Farke’s side defeated Plymouth Argyle 2-1 on Saturday to clinch the title ahead of Burnley, in remarkable fashion. Manor Solomon’s dramatic last-gasp winner secured the comeback after Willy Gnonto had equalised.
Leeds have become just the seventh team to claim 100 points in a Championship season and have done so by scoring the most goals and conceding just 30.
It’s been a sublime season that looked unlikely when Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter were all sold in the summer.
However, Leeds responded with some smart signings of their own and LUN writers have named who they believe was the best one below.
Will Butcher – Ao Tanaka
Farke admitted during the season that he wanted Leeds to sign Ao Tanaka in his first summer at the club, no wonder why. Leeds have spent less on Tanaka than they did for Isaac Schmidt, a third of Largie Ramazani’s transfer fee.
Tanaka is quite easily a £20m player now, if not more. Probably the best midfielder in the Championship, for £3.4m. Farke deserves praise for that, but so does Tanaka for his impeccable transition to English football.
Harry Dimond – Jayden Bogle
It’s close with Tanaka but the signing of the season for me goes to Jayden Bogle.
Bogle’s fee of £5m was an absolute bargain, through not only his defensive efforts but from an attacking point of view as well, with the right-back having ten goal contributions in the league.
The deal has worked for Leeds but another reason why I believe it’s panned out as the signing of the season is by coming at Sheffield United’s dismay.
Bogle left the Blades for Leeds and having a player of that quality has proved to be a big difference maker in the promotion race.
To make so much of an impact from full-back is always difficult, but Farke has found it to a tee with Bogle.
Adam Elliott – Ao Tanaka
Tanaka may have been pushed close by Bogle here, but the midfield maestro has to be Leeds’ signing of the season — and the Championship’s signing of the season to boot as well.
The tempo setter oozes class in almost every game at the base of midfield. His consistency is remarkable and his quality is undeniable. It’s clear that Tanaka is not just another cog in the Leeds machine; he quickly became the engine that has relentlessly kept Farke’s side running all season long.
An absolute bargain for less than £3 million.
Dan Murphy – Jayden Bogle
Tanaka was a revelation in the heart of midfield, starting the season superbly as he instantly adapted to life in English football.
However, such a physically draining campaign eventually began to take its toll and the Japanese international’s performance levels noticeably dipped in the crucial crunch period towards the end.
In contrast, Bogle has just got better and better.
The right-back perhaps took a little while to adapt to Farke’s system but, once he did, he has been absolutely crucial to the side’s success.
Bogle has provided the width on the right that has allowed the attacking trifecta to remain narrow and dangerous, while contributing six goals and four assists himself. All the while remaining solid and part of a record-breaking backline.
To think he came from promotion rivals Sheffield United for a steal at £5m makes it all the sweeter. Though Solomon’s late promotion-winning form also ran him close.
