In recent years, Leeds United have spent freely, breaking their transfer record several times during their three-year spell in the Premier League. But who is the current record signing for the Whites?
Football FanCast looks at Leeds United's most expensive signings in their history, according to Transfermarkt, with a detailed look at the top ten.
|
Leeds United's most expensive signing ever |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Level |
The player |
Money |
Signed from |
A year |
|
1 |
Georginio Rutter |
€34m |
Hoffenheim |
2023 |
|
2 |
Brendan Aaronson |
€32.84m |
RB Salzburg |
2022 |
|
3 |
Rodrigo |
€30m |
Valencia |
2020 |
|
4 |
Dan James |
€29.1m |
Man Utd |
2018 |
|
5 |
Rio Ferdinand |
€26m |
West Ham |
2000 |
|
6 |
Luis Sinisterra |
€25m |
Feyenoord |
2022 |
|
7 |
Jean-Kevin Augustin |
€21m |
RB Leipzig |
2022 |
|
8 |
Diego Llorente |
€20m |
Real Sociedad |
2020 |
|
9 |
Raph |
€18.6m |
Rennes |
2020 |
|
10 |
Robbie Keane |
€18m |
Inter |
2001 |
|
11 |
Helder Costa |
€17.7m |
Wolves |
2020 |
|
12 |
Tyler Adams |
€17m |
RB Leipzig |
2022 |
|
13 |
Robbie Fowler |
€16.8m |
Liverpool |
2001 |
|
14 |
Little Firpo |
€15m |
Barcelona |
2021 |
|
15 |
Joel Piroe |
€14m |
Swansea |
2023 |
|
=16 |
Robin Koch |
€13m |
Freiburg |
2020 |
|
=16 |
Rasmus Kristensen |
€13m |
RB Salzburg |
2022 |
|
18 |
Jack Harrison |
€12.8m |
Man City |
2021 |
|
=19 |
Max Wober |
€12m |
RB Salzburg |
2023 |
|
=19 |
Marc Roca |
€12m |
Bayern Munich |
2021 |
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Here's a detailed look at the 10 most expensive Leeds signings:
10
Robbie Keane
€18m from Inter
Robbie Keane first joined Leeds on loan, but following a successful start to life at Elland Road, he left Inter permanently in 2001.
However, Keane's stay in Yorkshire was short-lived, and just 12 months after signing, due to the club's dire financial situation, Keane was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur.
|
The year is joined |
2000 |
|
Appearance |
56 |
|
Goals |
19 |
|
It has been sold |
Tottenham (2002, £7m) |
9
Raph
€18.6m from Rennes
Arguably Leeds' best signing in recent years is Raphinha, who joined on deadline day in 2020. Under Marcelo Bielsa then came Jesse Marsch, the Brazilian midfielder who played for West Yorkshire and almost single-handedly kept the Whites in 2021/22.
After that, Raphinha got his dream move to Barcelona, Leeds made a healthy profit in the process.
|
The year is joined |
2020 |
|
Appearance |
67 |
|
Goals |
17 |
|
It has been sold |
Barcelona (2022, £55m) |
8
Diego Llorente
€20m from Real Sociedad
Defender Diego Llorente was brought in ahead of Leeds' return to the Premier League, with the Spaniard providing an experienced option in defence.
However, things did not go well for Llorente at Elland Road, who struggled to find a place under Bielsa or Marsch. He remains at the club, having spent the last season on loan at Roma.
|
The year is joined |
2020 |
|
Appearance |
59 |
|
Goals |
4 |
7
Jean-Kevin Augustin
€21m from RB Leipzig
There were high hopes when Jean-Kevin Augustin signed for Leeds on loan during their time in the Championship, with an obligation to take on a permanent deal if they win promotion.
The Whites went up, but Augustin did not live up to the agreement, playing just 48 minutes for Leeds, who were involved in a long legal battle to make his contract permanent.
In the end, Leeds were ordered to pay RB Leipzig and £24.5m in compensation to the player, making him the most expensive player to appear in football history.
|
The year is joined |
2020 |
|
Appearance |
3 |
|
Goals |
0 |
|
It has been sold |
Nantes (2020, free) |
6
Luis Sinisterra
€25m from Feyenoord
Winger Luis Sinisterra had an injury-plagued spell with Leeds after signing from Feyenoord in 2022, but showed his quality when fully fit.
The Colombian was part of the team that was relegated from the Premier League before forcing his way out in 2023 at Elland Road, which ended with him being loaned to Bournemouth on a permanent basis in February 2024.
|
The year is joined |
2022 |
|
Appearance |
26 |
|
Goals |
8 |
|
It has been sold |
Bournemouth (2024, £20m) |
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5
Rio Ferdinand
€26m from West Ham
The oldest signing in the Top 10 is defender Rio Ferdinand, signed by Leeds from West Ham in 2000.
The defender had a successful spell at Yorkshire, played in the Champions League and starred for England at the 2002 World Cup as a Whites player before joining big-money rivals Manchester United.
|
The year is joined |
2000 |
|
Appearance |
73 |
|
Goals |
3 |
|
It has been sold |
Man Utd (2002, £30m) |
4
Dan James
€29.1m from Man Utd
Signed from Old Trafford in 2021, Dan James was a long-term target for Bielsa who almost joined Leeds from Swansea City years ago before the deadline day collapse.
The Whites finally got their man, however, with James now appearing more often for Leeds than any of his previous clubs.
|
The year is joined |
2021 |
|
Appearance |
86 |
|
Goals |
17 |
3
Rodrigo
€30m from Valencia
Bielsa's most expensive player as Leeds manager is Spanish striker Rodrigo, who spent three years at Elland Road, scoring 28 goals in 97 games.
Rodrigo was placed just behind the striker, which was not a good performance, with his best season in front of goal for Leeds coming the year the Whites were relegated.
|
The year is joined |
2020 |
|
Appearance |
97 |
|
Goals |
28 |
|
It has been sold |
Al-Rayyan (2023, £3m) |
2
Brendan Aaronson
€32.84m from RB Salzburg
Attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson was on Leeds' radar for a good six months before signing in 2022, joining soon after the club confirmed their Premier League status.
In his first year as a player for the Whites, the USA player struggled as Leeds were relegated, and the big money looked like poor business.
|
The year is joined |
2022 |
|
Appearance |
40 |
|
Goals |
1 |
1
Georginio Rutter
€34m from Hoffenheim
Top of the charts is Georginio Rutter, who has won faithfully at Elland Road after a difficult start in West Yorkshire.
The French striker made his mark in the Championship in the 2023/24 season and is under contract until 2028, so Leeds fans will be hoping to see more of Rutter in the coming years.
|
The year is joined |
2023 |
|
Appearance |
64 |
|
Goals |
8 |
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