Ninth Leeds United international call-up confirmed as defender's 2025/26 season extended
Another Leeds United first-team player has been called up for international friendly action in June.
Leeds United defender Jaka Bijol has earned a call-up to the Slovenia national team for two summer friendlies in June.
Slovenia missed out on qualification for the 2026 World Cup back in November after losing 2-0 against Kosovo before a 1-1 draw with Gabriel Gudmundsson’s Sweden. Instead they will play two friendlies, against Cyprus in Ljubljana on June 4 before a trip to Croatia on June 7.
Bijol has enjoyed an excellent debut season at Leeds, following his £15million move from Udinese last summer. The 27-year-old had to wait until late October for a first Premier League appearance but has become a mainstay in Daniel Farke’s side, featuring in all but five top-flight games since.
A total of 25 Premier League appearances brought one goal - a bullet header against Chelsea back in November - and two assists. The towering defender has been one of the main beneficiaries of Farke’s formation change, thriving in the central role of a back-three between Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk.
“It was a really amazing season, I couldn't wish for a better one honestly,” Bijol said recently. “I have enjoyed every second of this season, even when I wasn't playing, they [teammates] kept me in a good mood. I’m really glad I could help them with my performances because they were just amazing throughout the season.”
Bijol’s season will now be extended into June and he’s not the only Leeds player with summer holidays on hold. Nine of Farke’s first-team squad now have international commitments, be it in friendlies or the World Cup.
Four Leeds players will be heading across the Atlantic Ocean for this summer’s major tournament. Brenden Aaronson’s ‘dream’ of a home World Cup has been realised following his USA call up, while Gabriel Gudmundsson will represent Sweden, Ao Tanaka will play for Japan and the Switzerland squad includes Noah Okafor.
Bijol is one of five Whites squad members in friendly action, the other four of which will be travelling together. Karl Darlow, Ethan Ampadu, Daniel James and Rodon have been called up for Wales ahead of friendlies against Ghana and Romania.