Leeds United maintain they are expecting a quiet transfer window this month and so any fans hoping for a mid-season influx of signings will be left disappointed. Daniel Farke has rightly pointed out the risk surrounding January additions and the German undoubtedly has a squad good enough to win promotion already - but it hasn’t always been like that.
Supporters will remember January also being mostly quiet during Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure but even he was forced into the market at times, while Leeds under several previous managers over the last decade have been caught scrambling. The pressure of mid-season business has produced some diamonds in West Yorkshire, but it has also been the catalyst for some of the club’s worst ever purchases.
Taking a look at every January transfer window of the past 10 years, the YEP has picked out six mid-season signings we believe Leeds got right - with six more they definitely didn’t. Take a look below to see if you agree.
1. No one - got it right
Obviously not a transfer, but a bold decision nonetheless. There was clamour for Leeds to strengthen in January 2025 but while other promotion candidates entered a difficult market, Elland Road chiefs kept their powder dry - and it worked. Farke's side went on to win the Championship title with 100 points and had no short-term signings/permanent clauses to deal with upon promotion. | Getty Images
2. Georginio Rutter - got it right
Georginio Rutter wasn't exactly what a relegation-threatened Leeds needed in January 2023, but after a slow start he burst into life during the 2023/24 campaign. The timing of his arrival was a little off but few can argue he didn't make a positive impact before his £40m move to Brighton. | Getty Images
3. Pascal Struijk - got it right
Signed as an 18-year-old free agent after his Ajax contract expired back in January 2018 and having come through U21s, has cemented himself as a regular starter and vice captain at first-team level over several years. Similar gambles elsewhere haven't always worked but Struijk is a perfect example of how to snap up youth talent. | Getty Images
4. Adam Forshaw - got it right
Injury issues plagued Forshaw's five-and-a-half-year spell at Elland Road but having cost just £4.5m, he still proved good value for money in helping Leeds win promotion before enjoying regular Premier League football. And if that's not enough, take comfort knowing Marcelo Bielsa rated him so highly after labelling the midfielder 'between the better players of the team'. | Getty Images
5. Tyler Roberts - got it right
Much like Forshaw, the Welshman's £2.5m January 2018 arrival can be seen as positive because of the trust Bielsa placed in him. He played at least 20 league games in each of the Argentinian's three full seasons at Elland Road and while opinion was often divided among supporters, Roberts will always be a central part of the 2019/20 title-winning squad. | Getty Images
6. Pablo Hernandez - got it right
Bending the rules a little for this one, given Leeds signed Hernandez on loan in the summer, but the decision to take him from Al-Arabi permanently was made in January 2017 and the rest is history. Admitted to playing some of the best football of his career under Bielsa, despite being well into his 30s, and at time single-handedly dragged the Whites to promotion. His goal at Swansea will never be forgotten. Photo: Harry Trump