Where are they now? The last Leeds United squad to face Aston Villa ahead of PL clash

Leeds United host Aston Villa following the international break in the first meeting between the two sides since January 2023.

The was the Midlands side who came out on top at Villa Park that day, 2-1 thanks to goals from Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia, with Patrick Bamford scoring a late consolation goal for Jesse Marsch’s men.

While there are still plenty of players around from that fixture, much has changed for the Whites over the last couple of years, which got us wondering where the players from that game are now.

Where are they now? The last Leeds United team to face Aston Villa

Goalkeeper: Illan Meslier

Meslier is still at Leeds United and has clocked up 214 appearances for the club so far. However, he hasn’t seen any senior minutes since a 2-2 draw against Swansea back in March, falling behind Karl Darlow and, now, Lucas Perri in the pecking order. He will surely leave the club in one of the next two transfer windows.

Right-back: Luke Ayling

Ayling is a Leeds hero, making 268 appearances after joining from Bristol City in 2016, helping the Whites to promotion in 2020. The veteran full-back finally departed Elland Road in the summer of 2024, joining Middlesbrough on a free transfer. He remains at the Riverside Stadium.

Centre-back: Robin Koch

Koch was signed for big money in 2021 following Leeds’ promotion but had a mixed time at Elland Road, with injuries often hampering his development. He headed for the exit door when Leeds were relegated two years ago, joining Eintracht Frankfurt - initially on loan before making the move permanent last summer. Koch has 15 caps to his name for the German national team.

Centre-back: Liam Cooper

Another massive name for Leeds, Liam Cooper was never quite able to hold down his place once United became a Premier League outfit, though he was solid when required. He left at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, making a shock move to Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia, but the Scotland international is now a free agent and heavily linked with Sheffield Wednesday.

Left-back Pascal Struijk

Struijk is still with Leeds United and is seen much more regularly at centre-back rather than left-back. It’s 168 games and counting for the Dutchman, who has plenty of quality on the ball but can sometimes struggle defending the space behind him.

Central midfield: Tyler Adams

Tyler Adams is a wonderfully dynamic midfielder, but has so often been held back by injuries. Nevertheless, he managed over 2,000 Premier League minutes with Leeds in 2022/23, but couldn’t save Leeds from relegation. The US international joined Bournemouth that summer and is now finally clear of injuries, proving incredibly effective in Andoni Iraola’s midfield.

Central midfield: Marc Roca

Roca was yet another who left Leeds on loan after relegation, joining Real Betis. He’s there permanently now, proving himself a valuable squad member with 65 appearances, six goals and seven assists over the last two-and-a-half years.

Right wing: Jack Harrison

Harrison joined Everton on loan two years running following Leeds’ relegation, but never really made the grade at Goodison Park, registering just five goals and four assists in 73 appearances. The winger is back at Elland Road now, though in a much more reduced role than he was previously.

Attacking midfield: Brenden Aaronson

Like so many others, Aaronson also left Elland Road on loan after relegation, enjoying a solid spell with Union Berlin. The former Philadelphia Union man played a key role in last season’s promotion campaign, notching nine goals and two assists in 46 Championship appearances. His work rate and commitment remain as high as ever, but Aaronson has managed just one goal and one assist in 11 Premier League appearances this term.

Left wing: Wilfried Gnonto

So many players left Leeds when they went down, but despite being the player linked with a departure arguably more than any other, Wilfried Gnonto stuck around. The Italian now sits on 22 goals and 14 assists in 123 appearances for United, but has been sidelined for much of this season due to injury.

Striker: Rodrigo

After a decent couple of years, Rodrigo burst into life in the 2022/23 season, notching 13 goals in 31 Premier League appearances, alongside another two in the FA Cup. The Spaniard was, naturally, in big demand once Leeds went down, but he eventually chose the Middle East, joining Qatari side Al-Rayyan. He’s registered an impressive 20 goals and nine assists in 32 appearances there, alongside two goals and four assists in 15 games on loan at Al-Gharafa.

Substitutes

• Max Wober: Enjoyed a solid loan with Gladbach following Leeds’ relegation. Returned to Elland Road as a fringe player last term and is now on loan at Werder Bremen.
• Patrick Bamford: Slowly but surely fell down the pecking order in the No.9 position and recently joined Sheffield United after a short spell as a free agent.
• Joe Gelhardt: Has enjoyed loan spells at Sunderland and Hull City since this match. Is doing well with the latter, hitting 12 goals in 36 appearances since the start of last season.
• Sam Greenwood: Had a couple of solid yet unspectacular loan spells at Middlesbrough and Preston following this campaign. Joined Polish side Pogon Szczecin this summer.
• Junior Firpo: Never convinced in the Premier League but became a key player in the Championship, especially last season, when he registered 10 assists and four goals in 32 appearances. Returned to Real Betis this summer.
• Joel Robles: Has played for Saudi side Al-Qadsiah and Estoril in Portugal since leaving Leeds. Is currently enjoying his second season with the latter.
• Diego Llorente: Never quite hit the heights expected of him at Elland Road. Joined Roma shortly after this match, and is now playing alongside Firpo with Betis.
• Rasmus Kristensen: Went on loan to Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt following this campaign, joining the latter permanently in the summer.
• Sonny Perkins: Loaned out to Oxford United and Leyton Orient, joining the latter permanently in January.

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