Category: Leeds

Leeds United have seen nine departures so far this summer and, according to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, are yet to announce a first signing, although a star is on his way.The club released their retained list on June 10, confirming eight exits and providing updates on three big question marks. A further high-profile departure has since taken the tally to nine.Illan Meslier left at the end of his contract.Pascal Struijk joined Brighton for a fee of eight million plus two million in potential add-ons.Facundo Buonanotte returned to parent club Brighton after his loan spell.Connor Douglas, Devon Brockie and Lewis Pirie also departed upon contract expiry.

John Francis discusses his route into law, the realities of the SQE and what drew him to Leeds
Leeds
“The volume and breadth of law that you have to study, and be prepared to apply, was greater than I had expected,” says John Francis, reflecting on his SQE experience. It’s an honest assessment of a process many aspiring solicitors will recognise as demanding from start to finish, and one that came at the end of a longer route into the profession than he first imagined.

We began by asking Francis about his career journey and what first drew him to law. Born in the UK and raised in Canada, he moved back in 2016 knowing he wanted to enter the legal profession. He went on to study law at the University of Sheffield, including a year in the US, graduating in 2021 at the height of the pandemic.
The route into commercial law was not immediate. Francis chose not to apply for vacation schemes during his final year, explaining that he “didn’t enjoy the prospect of everything being done virtually.” Instead, he stayed on full-time with a small charity in Sheffield where he had been working part-time, before moving into a role on a government-funded capital projects programme, supporting the construction of youth facilities across England. Alongside that, he kept applying for graduate recruitment schemes. An unsuccessful 2022 cycle was followed by a 2023 vacation scheme that didn’t convert into a training contract. It was only in 2024 that things clicked, with a vacation scheme and, ultimately, a training contract offer from Eversheds Sutherland. Since then, studying at The University of Law (ULaw), he has started a master’s, passed SQE1 in January, and is awaiting his SQE2 results ahead of a September start.
That persistence runs through his account of why law appealed in the first place. After speaking to lawyers in Canada from a young age, he knew he wanted to work in the legal field. Once back in the UK, the solicitor route in a commercial environment began to stand out because of the opportunity to advise businesses on practical challenges. Francis was also drawn to the profession’s competitive side. As one of five siblings, he tells us he was “always quite competitive”, while also valuing the law’s history and evolving nature, and the profession’s clear opportunities for development and progression.
Find out more about studying with The University of Law
On the SQE, Francis is clear about both the challenge and the attraction. For someone who had always wanted to be a commercial lawyer, revisiting areas such as wills, trusts, probate, and criminal law wasn’t necessarily what he had expected, and the sheer scope of what he had to cover caught him off guard. Even so, he stresses that the intensity wasn’t a total surprise. What he has enjoyed most is how practical the course feels. “It is not surface-level academic law like at the undergraduate level; it is very practical,” Francis explains, pointing to the constant focus on clients and ethics as what makes the work feel more real than undergraduate legal study.
The toughest part, he says, was the gap between SQE1 and SQE2. Sitting the first exam in January and then moving quickly into practical skills assessments in late April and early May made for a demanding turnaround. So how did he manage it? “Fundamentally, it’s about being organised and motivated,” he tells Legal Cheek Careers. Having a training contract and a clear September deadline helped, as did being supported by Eversheds Sutherland. Beyond that, he stresses the importance of “recognising weaker areas early and giving those subjects more time.” Just as important was having others around him going through the same process. A friend who will also be training at Eversheds Sutherland studied alongside him, and Francis is full of praise for “the value of leaning on colleagues when the workload begins to bite.”
Francis is equally positive about studying with ULaw. “Overall, it has been phenomenal and a really valuable experience,” he says. The SQE manuals and question banks were especially useful for SQE1 preparation, but it was the teaching faculty that stood out most, with workshop leaders he describes as “engaged, patient and always willing to follow up on questions.” His message to students considering ULaw is simple: make the most of those workshop sessions, because that’s where much of the real learning happens.
Find out more about studying with The University of Law
Legal careers can often feel overwhelmingly London-focused, so the conversation naturally turns to geography and Francis’s deliberate decision to pursue a training contract in Leeds. Having travelled to London for work, he knew it wasn’t where he wanted to live, and his undergraduate years in Sheffield had also reinforced a preference for the North. Leeds, he argues, offers a strong legal reputation outside London, growth across the legal, financial, and public sectors, and solid connections.
Francis was methodical about researching firms. “Researching firms is a numbers game, and you just have to spend the time doing it,” he says. For him, “growth potential and the opportunity for informal mentorship mattered most.” Firm websites could only take him so far, so open days, networking events, and assessment centres became crucial. He would often ask trainees and partners how they approached development and progression, paying attention not just to the substance of the answer but to the attitude behind it. That, he says, is where Eversheds Sutherland stood out, with people who “seemed genuinely invested in helping trainees get the most from their two-year training contract.”
His view on converting a vacation scheme is shaped by that same emphasis on people. Francis says there’s no single formula, because outcomes depend on firms, culture, and available places. Still, one theme stands out: “rapport.” Academic ability and motivation are assumed, but candidates also need to show they can speak to people, attend social events, and engage with genuine curiosity. “You need to cultivate a genuine sense of curiosity to develop relationships,” he says, adding that “so much of life in law comes down to relationship management and making clients feel comfortable.” These are skills, he suggests, “that can be built in all sorts of settings, not just legal ones.”
As for Eversheds Sutherland itself, what appealed most was “its focus on development opportunities and trainees’ long-term growth, alongside the breadth of work available at a large multinational firm.” In Leeds specifically, Francis highlights “the strength of the office’s construction and real estate offering.” Looking ahead, what excites him most is getting “stuck into four six-month seats across challenging, commercially relevant and varied areas of the law.”
Before we wrap up, I ask for the one piece of advice he would give students about to embark on the SQE or training contract applications. The answer goes back to the resilience that has defined his own route. “Don’t beat yourself up if you are not successful initially,” he says, stressing just how competitive the profession can be. More broadly: “My key piece of advice would be to get as much experience as possible, even if it is not legal experience.” Learning how to cooperate, build rapport, and identify informal mentors, he suggests, “can make all the difference.”
Join us THIS WEDNESDAY (8 July) for ‘Secrets to Success Leeds — with Eversheds Sutherland, Pinsent Masons, DAC Beachcroft and ULaw‘. Apply now to attend.
Find out more about studying with The University of Law

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Amy has spoken of the devastating moment her life changed forever.A Leeds woman has spoken out about the devastating moment her life changed forever when she was hit by a car when she was a child.Amy Stevenson was just eight-years-old when her life was changed forever. She and a friend she had been playing with were waiting to cross the road with the other girl’s mum when Amy was knocked down.”I don’t remember any of it,” Amy said in a video created for the “Life. Loss. Learning. Legacy” project. “I remember being in the hospital after being in ICU on a ward for six weeks.”I was paralysed down my right side due to a head injury and my right eye was closed.”Amy had also suffered a broken left femur, as well as a break to her growing plate, which caused concerns that her arm would no longer grow. “I had a lovely childhood…The car that knocked me down was driving too fast and too close to the curb. It was a really hard time for me and my family and my mum and my friends and everything.”But although the crash itself would have taken just a matter of moments, its repercussions would last a lifetime for Amy – even after she was discharged from hospital. “I felt like I was weird and nobody really wanted to know me,” said Amy, who spent the next 10 years in and out of hospital for surgery . “I felt really lonely and was overthinking all of the time. I used to worry a lot about the pressure put on my family because it affected my brothers and sister dealing with my mum not being there, and of course my mum. I was really worried about my life going forward and what sort of things I was going to have.Get all the latest and breaking news in Leeds by signing up to our newsletter here.”Would I have my own home or children or dogs I could walk? When I was 18, I didn’t feel like I had had enough rehabilitation and felt like I had kind of been forgotten about.”Amy went on to do her own research and found out about a treatment in Miami where doctors would connect wires to different muscles and the brain while she was stood up or walking and she could see on a monitor what was working. She said: “I could see the muscles I thought weren’t working worked.”Amy went on two trips to Miami for the treatment. She said: “It gave me the confidence to know I could do something. I have always been really determined since then. Maybe the fear of not being able to do something has turned me into this person determined to do whatever I want to.”Amy Stevenson(Image: One Trauma Support/Lippy People)She said she has now accepted herself and added: “I know the lady who caused my accident and I don’t feel any resentment towards her. I think it’s really important to forgive people for something she didn’t set out to do that evening.”Looking back, I have had such a brilliant life. I have got married, had children, got two dogs and am loving life. I have achieved everything I was frightened about when I was a teenager. It made me realise that time I spent worrying and scared about these things happening to me, I didn’t need to waste all of the time worrying about it.”Amy has told her story as part of a project launched by Day One Trauma Support, a Leeds-based charity dedicated to helping people who have suffered with serious or life-changing injuries. The charity has partnered with Lippy People, a charity that uses video storytelling to support people sharing their experiences, to create important and hard-hitting clips, including Amy’s. “Storytelling is a uniquely human way of connecting,” said Amy. “It creates a lasting legacy, highlighting experiences, lessons and perspectives that might otherwise go unheard. In telling our stories, we have created connections, lasting friendships, and a sense of belonging and shared understanding.“We hope our stories do more than just raise awareness. We hope they build empathy, inspire reflection, start conversations and ultimately improve things for people recovering from life-changing injury.”Carley Stubbs, Head of Lived Experience and Social Research at Day One Trauma Support said: “Stories have the power to change how we see the world. Recovery is much more than just survival. This project encapsulates our charity’s goal of building a community of people who can support one another.“They know, from lived experience, how life feels when it is shattered in an instant, and what it takes to recover from injury, rebuild their life and reclaim their identity. Thank you to each storyteller who shared their experiences with honesty and courage, and to Lippy People for bringing this project to life.”Pete Towson, of Lippy People said: “From the very first time I met each Day One storyteller, I knew this project was going to be something special.“It quickly became clear that we were creating a collection of truly incredible stories. A real highlight has also been watching the social connections grow among the members; seeing the power of peer support and the creation of such a supportive space for sharing and learning has been a true joy.”LeedsLive has launched a WhatsApp community and anyone who joins will get the latest breaking news and top stories sent direct to their phone. To join click here .If you don’t like our community, you can leave any time. We also treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here .

Credit: Imago

Leeds United have already sanctioned Pascal Struijk’s departure this summer and are looking to offload several more players before the transfer window closes.

The Whites would have preferred to keep Struijk, but once it became clear he would not sign a new contract, the club opted to cash in before the end of June to help balance the books.

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Leeds are now focused on trimming the squad further, with several players outside Daniel Farke’s plans and unlikely to play a meaningful role in the Premier League next season.

Isaac Schmidt is among those expected to return from loan this summer, but he is not part of Farke’s long-term thinking. The defender is widely expected to leave Elland Road again, with interest already emerging from clubs in his native Switzerland.

Leeds United take major Isaac Schmidt decision

Isaac Schmidt spent last season on loan at Werder Bremen, but didn’t do enough to earn a permanent stay at the German club at the end of the campaign.

He started six league matches and made another 13 appearances from the bench. Although he marked his debut with a goal, he failed to register another goal or assist as his loan side finished six points clear of the relegation zone.

The German club ultimately decided against making the move permanent.

Young Boys and FC Basel are interested in taking the defender back to Switzerland this summer. However, Leeds have clear expectations for a deal.

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds will push for a permanent sale of Schmidt, two years into his four-year contract at Elland Road.

He does not have a future at Elland Road, and the Whites are keen to sell him for a fee, rather than accept one more loan offer.

Leeds need to offload several players

Isaac Schmidt is one of several players Leeds United are hoping to move on this summer, as the defender is not part of Daniel Farke’s long-term plans.

Largie Ramazani is set to return for pre-season, but Valencia are continuing to work on a deal to bring him back to the Mestalla after last season’s loan spell.

Mateo Joseph’s future remains uncertain. A knee injury has complicated any potential transfer, making it increasingly likely that he will still be at Elland Road once the window closes.

Joel Piroe is widely expected to leave as Leeds look to bring in a new striker, although there are no advanced talks over his exit at this stage.

Wilfried Gnonto is another player who could depart before the deadline, but Leeds are still waiting for a club to meet their valuation of the Italian winger.

By NoSmokeBoxing

Undefeated Dutch knockout artist Gradus Kraus is set for a significant light heavyweight challenge against American veteran Sean Hemphill on Saturday, August 8, 2026. This pivotal bout will unfold at the First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds, England, as part of the highly anticipated Troy Williamson vs. Callum Simpson II card.

The fight represents a crucial step for the 24-year-old Kraus, who aims to solidify his rapidly growing reputation against a formidable opponent known for pulling off upsets.

Gradus Kraus vs Sean Hemphill: The main event

Kraus, with an impressive 11-0 record including 10 knockouts, will put his perfect professional ledger on the line in what BOXXER founder and CEO Ben Shalom has described as a “major test.” Hemphill, 30, brings a 19-3 record with 11 KOs and a wealth of experience, making this a fascinating clash of rising talent against battle-tested skill.

Gradus Kraus has quickly emerged as one of Europe’s most exciting boxing prospects. The 24-year-old Dutchman has floored every opponent he’s faced, with only one making it beyond the second round. His aggressive style and devastating power have earned him a reputation as a must-watch fighter in the light heavyweight division.

Kraus’s journey to this point includes a second-round stoppage victory over Theo Brooks in Rotterdam earlier this year. Before that, he stopped Boris Crighton in the second round at London’s Copper Box Arena on January 31, 2026. His father, Albert Kraus, a legendary kickboxer, serves as his trainer, guiding his promising career.

Promoted by BOXXER, Kraus is highly regarded, though Ben Shalom cautions that it is “still early days.” This fight against Sean Hemphill is strategically designed to push Kraus, providing the kind of resistance that can truly gauge a fighter’s championship potential.

Sean Hemphill seeks another UK upset

Sean “Silky” Hemphill, hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, is no stranger to fighting on foreign soil. This will be his third trip to the UK, where his record stands at 1-1. His last outing saw him lose a split decision to Ty Mitchell at Misfits Boxing 22 in Manchester in August 2025.

But Hemphill also boasts a career-defining win from June 2025, when he secured a majority decision over the previously unbeaten Mark Jeffers at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley. That victory earned him the WBA Gold Continental title and proved he’s capable of upsetting the odds against highly touted local talent.

Hemphill’s resume includes sharing the ring with former world champion William Scull and serving as a sparring partner for boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez. This extensive experience makes him a dangerous opponent for any rising prospect, presenting a complex challenge that Kraus hasn’t yet encountered in his professional career.

Williamson-Simpson II headlines the evening

The Kraus vs. Hemphill clash serves as a compelling addition to an already stacked card headlined by the super middleweight rematch between Troy Williamson and Callum Simpson. Their first encounter, on December 20, 2025, was a brutal affair at the same Leeds venue, with Williamson defeating Simpson by TKO in the tenth round to claim the European, British, and Commonwealth titles.

That initial fight saw Simpson, previously undefeated with an 18-0 record and 13 KOs, knocked down four times in the final round before the stoppage. Oddsmakers had favored Simpson heavily at 7/50 (-710), making Williamson’s 9/2 (+450) victory a significant upset.

Williamson, from Darlington, County Durham, entered that bout with a 21-4-1 record and 15 KOs, having previously defeated Mark Dickinson by TKO in September 2025 for the English title.

Simpson, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, had built a formidable record with wins over Ivan Zucco, Elvis Ahorgah, Steed Woodall, Zak Chelli, and Abdallah Paziwapazi in the months leading up to his first clash with Williamson. The rematch promises to be a high-stakes affair, with both fighters eager to prove themselves and claim the coveted titles.

This kind of competitive rematch often brings out the best in both fighters, promising an explosive main event.

Stacked undercard features British and international talent

Beyond the main event and the light heavyweight showdown, the BOXXER fight night boasts a deep undercard, showcasing a mix of promising talents from the UK and abroad. Fans attending the First Direct Bank Arena will witness several intriguing matchups across various weight classes.

Hassan Azim (9-0, 5 KOs, British-Pakistani) vs. Ruben Torres (8-0, 4 KOs, Portugal) – 8 rounds, super welterweight
Mauro Silva (9-0, 4 KOs, Manchester) vs. Tyler Christopher (12-0, 2 KOs, Birmingham-based Bermudan) – 8 rounds, middleweight
Billy Pickles (18-1, 1 KO) vs. Max Curtis (10-1, 1 KO) – 6 rounds, super lightweight
Billy Deniz (15-0, 5 KOs) vs. Alex Carter (5-2) – 6 rounds, super middleweight
Brad Casey (5-0, 2 KOs) vs. Ross McGuigan (7-12-1, 1 KO) – 4 rounds, cruiserweight
Ted Jackson (7-0) vs. TBA – 6 rounds, super welterweight

This lineup reflects BOXXER’s commitment to developing new stars and providing entertaining fights for British boxing fans. The variety of undefeated prospects and seasoned competitors suggests an evening full of competitive action. The inclusion of international fighters like Portugal’s Ruben Torres also adds an extra dimension to the card.

Strategic pairing offers significant development

The decision to pit Gradus Kraus against Sean Hemphill is a deliberate strategic move by BOXXER. It places a rapidly ascending prospect against a fighter with a proven ability to challenge. As Ben Shalom noted, Hemphill is a “slick operator” who has “already shown in the UK that he can upset the odds.”

This kind of matchmaking is essential for the growth of a young fighter like Kraus. Such pairings prevent prospects from cruising on easy wins, instead forcing them to adapt and overcome genuine adversity.

For Kraus, overcoming a tricky veteran like Hemphill would significantly boost his standing in the light heavyweight division. It would provide tangible evidence that he can not only knock out opponents but also outbox experienced professionals who pose stylistic puzzles. This is a common path for fighters destined for world titles, where they must navigate a series of increasingly difficult challenges.

Similarly, for Hemphill, an upset victory against an undefeated prospect on a major platform like DAZN would reignite his career. It would demonstrate that his WBA Gold Continental title win was no fluke and that he remains a credible threat in the division. Both fighters have immense motivation, ensuring a high-octane encounter in Leeds.

Event broadcast and ticket information

Boxing fans around the world will be able to catch all the action live and exclusively on DAZN. The event, scheduled for Saturday, August 8, 2026, promises a full day of boxing with doors opening at 4:00 PM local time. The First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds provides a fantastic setting for this high-profile fight night, known for its vibrant atmosphere and passionate boxing crowd.

Tickets for the event are available for purchase via AXS.com and Ticketmaster UK. For those planning to attend, it’s important to note that all under-14s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over at all times. This ensures a safe and enjoyable environment for all attendees, maintaining the family-friendly aspect of major boxing events.

The full card, including the much-anticipated rematch between Troy Williamson and Callum Simpson, highlights the depth of talent on display. Fans can look forward to a night of compelling contests, from the explosive power of Gradus Kraus to the tactical masterclass expected from the main event contenders.

BOXXER has assembled a card designed to deliver maximum excitement, ensuring every fight holds significance for the fighters involved and the broader boxing landscape.

com/women-s-boxing-golden-era-why-womens-boxing-is-entering-a-new-golden-e/”>Women’s boxing has also seen a golden era emerge, bringing more diverse and exciting matchups to the forefront of the sport, mirroring the strategic development of cards like this one. com/tyson-fury-vs-anthony-joshua-date-revealed-update/”>Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, continue to capture the public imagination, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the sport’s biggest names. This Leeds event aims to cultivate the next generation of boxing stars who might one day headline such monumental events themselves.

The O’tea’ly Run is raising money for Friends of Alfie Martin alongside the Leeds-based Give a Gift charity. Give a Gift director Rifhat Malik said: “When Shazia came to me with the idea, I loved it.”We were born and bred in Leeds, and we see the Otley runners all the time and it’s brilliant fun.”I’m really inspired because it’s great that we’ve got people from our community coming forward to raise funds for our chosen charity.”Malik said the charity’s mission was especially close to her heart. “I’ve sort of gone through what the founders went through in terms of losing a baby, and I think the vital equipment that they provide in the Yorkshire region, the hospitals in particular, it’s life-saving, amazing work.”So it probably touches a lot of families in many ways. This is just one way of us showing our support. They’re doing some fantastic work.”Friends of Alfie Martin was founded in 2002 by Alfie’s parents, Fiona and Roger Martin. Alfie died three days after being born by caesarean section at Harrogate District Hospital. The volunteer-led charity has raised more than £1m so far, helping thousands of families across Yorkshire.Committee member Jackie Knaggs said being chosen as the charity partner was a “privilege”, but it was also heartening to see something “fun” contribute to Alfie’s “positive legacy”.

Leeds United smartly included a sell-on clause in Charlie Cresswell’s transfer to Toulouse. Now, he’s on the move two years later.

Leeds’ academy has produced some very talented players of late, but few of them have actually enjoyed prolonged stints in the Whites senior squad.

Charlie Cresswell made a handful of appearances for us. However, a lack of playing time behind Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk meant he was justified in pursuing a move to Toulouse. The 49ers sanctioned a move for £3.8million in the summer of 2024.

Leeds United to gain up to £3million from Charlies Cresswell transfer to Rennes

It looked a fairly small fee for Cresswell having enjoyed a brilliant loan spell at Millwall previously. Although, United also agreed a sell-on clause when selling the centre-back to Toulouse.

Leeds, per the YEP, are entitled to 15% of any profit made by the Ligue 1 club in the event of his exit.

After various links to our Premier League rivals, Cresswell is leaving, but is set to stay in France with a move north up to Rennes. Foot Mercato report that a €28million (£24million) deal is agreed between the two Ligue 1 sides.

Such a fee for Toulouse entitles Leeds to a fee up to £3million for Cresswell’s exit to Rennes. In the process, he’s joining a side playing in next season’s Europa League.

Leeds United gain valuable boost after cashing in on Charlie Cresswell early in his career

If the circumstances were different, the club probably wouldn’t have sold Cresswell. Our hands were tied, though.

He wasn’t playing because we had two better starting centre-backs in the Championship. And, he wanted immediate assurances of regular football, which Toulouse have offered.

What we all expected has followed, he’s become a highly sought after centre-back across Europe and a side playing in Europe are signing him.

Leeds were justified for selling at the time, but it’s a shame he couldn’t realise his potential here. Good luck to him.

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After securing passage into the 2026/27 Premier League season for Leeds United, Daniel Farke said that he “was not the right choice” to continue at the helm if the Whites failed to match his ambition. It felt like a critical juncture for the Elland Road side, who did so well to avoid relegation back down to the Championship. Farke was the architect, shrugging off a reputation as a nearly man in the top flight like shackles enclosed round his wrists. The German is still gripping the reins, and he will be delighted to have seen the 49ers repay him, the team and the fans with ambition in the transfer market.

Harry Wilson has joined the club on a free transfer. What a signing that is. The £30m sale of Pascal Struijk to Brighton is less exciting, but it does keep Leeds in line with PSR. There is more to come.
Leeds submit new offer for top target

Leeds entered the summer transfer market knowing that they needed to add more creativity and sparkle to Farke’s outfit. Wilson will help in that regard, but more quality is needed. After all, Leeds are still in talks to pull off a statement move for Julian Brandt, who could be a “game-changer” for the Whites, according to German football journalist and editor of Ruhr Nachrichten.

But Farke is sharp of mind, and he recognises the need for deeper midfield signings too. Leeds continue to pursue a Championship superstar who could easily end up as the signing of the summer for the Yorkshire outfit.
As per the Dail Mail’s Simon Jones, Leeds have raised their bid for Southampton’s Shea Charles to £23m, having already seen an opening offer knocked back. Whether Saints accept that sum remains to be seen; there’s no question that they are going to continue to play hardball over the signature of one of a player who could take Leeds to the next level in the Premier League.

With Crystal Palace also entering the race for the former Manchester City youth prospect, it’s clear that Leeds need to get this over the line quickly to show Farke that they are indeed matching his ambition.
Why Shea Charles can be a superstar for Leeds

Farke has created a stable and progressive Leeds team. They have what it takes to defend their position in the Premier League next season, but supporters may actually be itching for a bigger piece of the pie. They need a couple of additions with superstar value. Easier said than done, but someone like Raphinha would go down a treat.

Wilson and Brandt could offer the kind of technical value that the Brazilian once produced at Elland Road, but it’s Charles who has the quality to develop into a world-class talent, having already been touted as a “future £50-60m player” by EFL expert Ali Maxwell. A physical and technical player, Charles has been hailed as “the complete midfielder” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, offering a robustness that could pay dividends for a United side looking for security to allow the more attack-minded players to thrive. It would be a real coup, with Charles showing enough promise to suggest that he could catch the eye of some pretty big fish down the line. In that, maybe, he could become the Whites’ new version of Raphinha, not packing the same stylistic punch, but growing into a big-money superstar attracting interest from the heaviest hitters about.

Shea Charles in the Championship

Stats (* per 90)

24/25

25/26

Matches (starts)

43 (42)

33 (22)

Goals + assists

1 + 5

4 + 2

Touches*

61.1

52.5

Accurate passes*

34.5 (83%)

33.2 (85%)

Chances created*

1.3

0.8

Succ. dribbles*

0.7

0.6

Ball recoveries*

5.7

4.3

Def. contributions*

5.6

4.0

Duels won*

6.5 (59%)

4.7 (57%)

It’s interesting that he’s not even coming off the back of his strongest season in the Championship. After settling into his role on the major stage in 2023/24, Charles spent the 2024/25 season on loan with Sheffield Wednesday, playing an almighty part in the Owls’ 12th-place finish.

His campaign with Saints was somewhat more attritional, but there’s no question that he has demonstrated the talent needed to thrive in the Premier League, emulating Raphinha in becoming a superstar at Elland Road.

The 29-year-old Brazilian may have gone on to achieve Ballon d’Or contention for himself at Barcelona, picking up a couple of La Liga titles and posting 75 goals and 59 assists across 177 games, but he developed into that player at Leeds. Charles has the natural ability to do the same. Man City recognised it during the midfielder’s early years, and now, Farke’s Leeds could allow him to bloom. Let’s hope the 49ers get it done.

Related

Why £30m Leeds target is the perfect replacement for Pascal Struijk

Leeds United are reportedly pursuing a deal to sign a star who would be a better option than Pascal Struijk.

Leeds United face a mounting fight to re-sign Karl Darlow after the goalkeeper became a free agent on Tuesday, with competition emerging from the Premier League.Sky Sports reports that Everton are interested as they seek depth behind Jordan Pickford and Mark Travers, and that Leeds have offered fresh terms but Darlow is considering his options, with Manchester United also keen on a move.The 35-year-old would be a low-cost, low-risk addition, being homegrown, a Wales international and proven at the top level. He featured in 22 of Leeds’ 38 Premier League matches last season.Darlow covered for Illan Meslier during the 2024/25 promotion run, then slipped behind summer arrival Lucas Perri. He reclaimed the number one shirt earlier this year after two errors from his rival against Manchester United and Newcastle.Goalkeeper remains an uncertain position at Leeds, with Perri the only senior option under contract. A new deal is thought to have been verbally agreed with Alex Cairns, but nothing has been confirmed. Like Darlow, Illan Meslier is now a free agent and is attracting Premier League interest, namely from Arsenal, who might seek cover for first-choice David Raya.

Leeds United officially confirmed that central defender Pascal Struijk has been sold to Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday. The Dutchman had one year left on his contract at Elland Road and opted against putting pen to paper on an extension at Elland Road, which left the club with little choice but to cash in on him. Because the left-footed star joined on a free transfer from Ajax in January 2018, the £20m transfer fee for him represents pure profit for the club and will help them with their PSR situation.

Without boring anyone with the intricate details of how it works, the Whites can bank the transfer as pure profit because they did not sign him for a transfer fee, which would not be the case if they sold a player who had been bought for £5m or £15m. Now, though, the West Yorkshire outfit must use that money wisely to replace the former Ajax ace, as they are now down a left-footed centre-back option.
Leeds are in talks to sign LaLiga star

Struijk, who made 196 appearances for the first-team in all competitions during his time at Elland Road, was the only naturally left-footed centre-back in Daniel Farke’s squad.

Now, the club are reportedly looking at a player who could arrive in West Yorkshire this summer as the perfect replacement for the £20m-rated star.
According to journalist Fran Campos Vazquez, Leeds United are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign Real Betis centre-back Natan in the summer transfer window. The reporter claims that the Whites have already made contact with the LaLiga side to enquire and open talks about what a deal for the Brazilian star could look like this off-season.

He adds, though, that fellow Premier League side Brentford and Italian giants Roma are also eyeing up the 25-year-old, which means that it will not be an easy deal to get over the line. Earlier this summer, Mundo Deportivo reported that Real Betis are looking for a fee of up to €35m (£30m) for the central defender, who has also been looked at by Barcelona.
How Natan can be an upgrade on Pascal Struijk for Leeds United

One factor to consider when replacing Struijk is that he offered a natural left-footed balance when playing out from the back in the left-sided centre-back role.

Natan is a left-footed central defender and would perfectly replace the Dutchman to offer balance when playing out on that side, having completed 88% of his attempted passes in LaLiga in the 2025/26 campaign. The £30m-rated star was described as an “elegant left-footed CB” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, which is backed up by his 88% pass accuracy and 95% pass accuracy inside his own half.

25/26 season

Natan (LaLiga)

Struijk (Premier League)

Appearances

33

34

Tackles + interceptions

2.1

2.0

Clearances per game

6.6

6.1

Dribbled past per game

0.3x

0.5x

Blocks made per game

0.7

0.6

Fouls committed per game

0.8

0.8

Natan is not only a ball-playing centre-back, though, as he also posted more impressive defensive numbers in LaLiga than Struijk did in the Premier League for Leeds, outperforming him in a host of metrics. Only three players made more clearances in the Spanish top-flight than the Real Betis star, who made 217 clearances in 33 matches, which speaks to both his positioning and his reading of the game.

He could arrive at Elland Road to be an upgrade on the Dutchman, who only left this week, by being more consistent defensively, whilst being as impressive as a ball-playing left-footed centre-back.
At the age of 25, he would also join as an experienced player who has proven himself over several seasons, including in the 2024/25 Conference League campaign.

Natan played 15 matches in the Conference League in the season before last and won 68% of his ground duels and 57% of his aerial duels, which shows that he can be a dominant presence on the European stage, if Leeds get there in the future.

He also won 65% of his physical battles across 31 appearances in LaLiga that season, dominating attackers on a regular basis, which shows that he has two impressive seasons of LaLiga football under his belt. That is why the Whites should now push to beat Brentford and Roma to his signature in the coming days, because he would arrive as the perfect replacement for Struijk, potentially even being an upgrade.

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