An exodus was to be expected – dropping into the second tier all-but guaranteed the exits of some high profile players - and yet there was still room for surprises in terms of players who stayed to defy expectation and those who suddenly couldn’t wait to get out of Elland Road.
Leeds went into the summer quite prepared to say goodbye to some of those who did leave the club, although it wasn’t immediately clear just how many had relegation exit clauses that would facilitate loans or indeed how many would activate them. They also set their stall out to retain a number of players highlighted by 49ers Enterprises as key to the promotion charge. Max Wober, Tyler Adams, Willy Gnonto and Jack Harrison were among those Leeds desperately wanted to keep at Elland Road, believing retention to be just as key as incoming recruitment in some cases.
By the time the window shut last week, however, Wober, Adams and Harrison were long gone. Remaining were a small number of players who had been expected to go. Although the madness was not over with until deadline day itself, the recruitment Leeds got over the line helped to turn the summer narrative around from one of bitter negativity to relative contentment, albeit with left-back and number 10 wishes going unfulfilled. Daniel Farke’s squad now has a solid look to it. The German says he is pretty happy with how it has turned out and ultimately Leeds have rid themselves of individuals who had no desire to stay and fight, or even right the wrong for which they were partly responsible.
Prior to Farke’s appointment the YEP published predictions on how the squad rebuild would go, in terms of retention and exits, and here’s how we got on.

25. Brenden Aaronson
An exit we predicted, albeit not by the permanent deal we thought it might be. Leeds weren't going to recover what they paid for him, a factor we didn't properly consider. A loan, in this instance, makes sense for the Whites. A good season at Union Berlin opens up permanent exit possibilites. Photo: Jörg Halisch

26. Crysencio Summerville
Stick another in the 'w' column. W for wrong. He stayed, despite our predictions of an exit. One who confounded the feeling around Leeds as the window opened and got his head down when Farke came in. Photo: Jess Hornby

27. Willy Gnonto
We could see Serie A bids and a sale. What we saw was Everton bids and a retention. At various stages of the summer it did not look like a plausible outcome and yet here we are, Gnonto remains at Leeds. Photo: Jess Hornby

28. Daniel James
We saw him staying to fight for a place and becoming an asset with his pace. Leeds were never minded to sell him and, to his credit, his willingness to play for the club again and fight for promotion has made him part of Farke's plans. Photo: Alex Caparros

29. Joe Gelhardt
Leeds would seek to keep and use him, we felt, and they have done but he's got his work cut out to get minutes. The chances he has had under Farke have not yielded a great deal in terms of impact in the final third. Photo: Jess Hornby

30. Jack Harrison
Premier League ability and top flight ambition told us he would go, so that was the prediction and that proved to be the case. His exit wasn't as acrimonious as some of the others but, yet again, it was a loan. Photo: Gareth Copley

