'I am even more hungry than last season' - Okaforpublished at 16:57 BST 13 August
16:57 BST 13 August
Image source, Getty Images
Leeds United forward Noah Okafor played his first minutes of pre-season against Manchester United on Wednesday.
The Switzerland international returned to training last week after an extended break as his nation reached the quarter-finals of this summer's World Cup.
Okafor said it was "amazing to be back with the team on the pitch."
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, he said: "I was really happy to be back and now we just have to keep building, working and looking forward day by day."
On his performance, he added: "That's the game I play, the game I used to play. I need a few more days to work on my fitness... then when it starts I am ready."
Okafor only played 19 minutes for Switzerland as a substitute during this summer's tournament and expressed his disappointment.
"The World Cup was not so good for me because I didn't play so much. The coach didn't let me play, I don't know why because I did really great," he explained.
"I came with a lot of confidence, I did an amazing season but in the end he just decides like this, but now I keep it to the side so just focus on Leeds. Give every day 100% in training and this season help the team again like last season."
The forward scored eight goals and provided one assist in 28 Premier League appearances last term and is determined to improve as preparation for the new season continues.
"I am even more hungry than last season. I adapted more in the Premier League and adapted to the team. The most important thing is to stay healthy and fit, keep every day with a smile and try to help the team with goals and assists," he said.
Trafford 'desperate to play' against Man Utd - Farkepublished at 10:54 BST 13 August
10:54 BST 13 August
Image source, Getty Images
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke says James Trafford "was desperate to play" Wednesday's friendly against Manchester United despite only completing one session with the Whites beforehand.
Trafford, who cost a club record fee of £40m, only joined up with Farke's squad on Tuesday before travelling to Dublin to face United.
Despite this, the England international was in the starting XI and played 45 minutes before being replaced by Alex Cairns.
His first-half performance, most notably tipping Bryan Mbeumo's sharp effort round the post, was enough to earn him Man of the Match.
"I was a bit unsure in the beginning, but he was so desperate to play," said Farke. "We just have two games so I need the connection.
"The medical department were really concerned, but I took the responsibility. Once a top class player wants to play football, you don't stand in the way too much.
"I think [this being] the first time [he's played for Leeds] was good for his confidence.
"Everyone could also see why we signed him, and also although he's not in full fitness, he looked sharp and quick. He has good presence on the pitch and is good with his feet.
"We are all happy to have him.
"It's also good that he came through the game without an injury and that he has his first 45 minutes under the belt.
"We'll use the next [few] days to work further with him and then hopefully he can prove when the real stuff starts what a what a big signing for us he could be."
Man Utd beat Leeds on penalties in pre-season friendlypublished at 08:56 BST 13 August
08:56 BST 13 August
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Manchester United won 5-4 on penalties against rivals Leeds in a pre-season friendly at Croke Park.
Noussair Mazraoui scored the winning spot kick as the match ended 1-1 in normal time.
Joshua Zirkzee opened the scoring in the first half after he swept in a first-time effort from 18 yards.
Brenden Aaronson equalised for Leeds 13 minutes later, when he broke into the box to latch on to Dan James' ball and poke past Man Utd goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
Gossip: Gelhardt set for permanent Hull switchpublished at 07:24 BST 13 August
07:24 BST 13 August
Hull City are close to completing a deal to re-sign Joe Gelhardt from Leeds permanently after the English striker spent the past two seasons on loan at the Tigers. (Sky Sports), external
How do add-ons work in football transfers?published at 07:16 BST 13 August
07:16 BST 13 August
It is common practice these days for transfer fees to have performance-based add-ons. The theory is the selling club gains more if the player goes on to be extremely successful, while the buying club is to some extent protected financially if the transfer doesn't work out.
In some cases, the total value of add-ons is significant - Real Madrid could end up paying an extra £30m to Borussia Dortmund for Jude Bellingham depending on how successful he is over the course of his career in the Spanish capital, for example.
In others, like the potential £1.7m worth of add-ons Brighton's £29.78m signing of Greece Under-21 forward Charalampos Kostoulas, are less significant.
Clubs sometimes say add-ons are 'easily achievable' or 'difficult'.
Easier-to-achieve add-ons can include things like making a basic number of appearances, or scoring a certain amount of goals. Add-ons can also be attached to a team's success rather than the individual player's - a club may agree to an add-on requiring an extra payment if they qualify for Europe, for example.
Others can be more ambitious - tied to extreme levels of individual or collective success, like winning the Champions League or the Ballon d'Or.
An example of the difficulty add-ons can present when discussing valuations would be the claims made in the Portuguese media in 2022 that the first additional payment in Darwin Nunez's £64m-plus-add-ons move from Benfica to Liverpool was triggered by the Uruguayan making just 10 appearances.
Then Liverpool boss Arne Slot rejected speculation he had not started Nunez in some games because it would trigger an additional payment.
Whether Liverpool paid more for Nunez, or club captain Virgil van Dijk - for whom they paid a flat fee of £75m to Southampton in 2017 - cannot be determined without knowing exactly what add-ons were included in the Nunez deal, then figuring out which conditions he has and has not met.
Is it the 'end of the line' for Piroe?published at 12:00 BST 12 August
12:00 BST 12 August
Image source, Getty Images
Jonny Buchan and Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix have been contemplating what the future holds for Joel Piroe on the latest episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet.
Buchan told the BBC Radio Leeds podcast: "There's been some talk about Joel Piroe, hasn't there? You know, he didn't play in the game at the weekend against RB Leipzig, even though it was a 120-minute game. And that would suggest the thought process after that is that he's just down the pecking order.
"That's what Daniel Farke has sort of suggested. And therefore that will probably mean he will likely go out somewhere if someone comes for him, surely?"
Rix said: "I don't really understand the logic. I guess there's some wages and stuff like that, but he's definitely third in the pecking order.
"I guess, with Wilson coming in as well, he's down the pecking order for kind of number 10-ish as well. So I don't know. It just seems like the end of the line.
"It's just like, just go in a nice way and go do something else. And Leeds fans will always rate you and have, you know, be happy for your contribution. Whereas now, It's souring it a little bit."
'Matter of time' on Gelhardt and 'progress' on Iroegbunam - Jakirovicpublished at 09:12 BST 12 August
09:12 BST 12 August
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As part of his special studio discussion with BBC Radio Humberside, Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic has opened up and given updates on the club's pursuits of various transfer targets, including Joe Gelhardt and Tim Iroegbunam.
Gelhardt has spent two loan spells with the Tigers, helping them to promotion last season, and Jakirovic says a return for the Leeds forward is "just a matter of time".
"There is no doubt about Joe Gelhardt," he said.
"I have no doubt because he proves everything on the pitch.
"Last season - 15 goals and seven assists. 22 times directly involved in a goal. He loves Hull City, he wants to be here, he is very happy here.
"This I think is also just a matter of time until we finish this job and I hope we will finish this.
"I think if he will be in the rotation for our team then it will be very good for us.
"Of course I would like to sign him because he has proved everything on the pitch."
Another target is Everton midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, who fits the profile Jakirovic wants to add to his squad.
"I think there is progress in this player," he added.
"I like how he is playing and he is very experienced. I think we need this profile for a midfielder and I hope we will sign him.
"But, we will see. It could be a loan or permanent transfer. There is a lot of exchanging. He is in the last year of his contract which is an advantage for us."
Leeds United have stepped up their pre-season schedule whilst also adding to their squad with a club record signing. Jonny Buchan and Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix look back on a busy week in the latest episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet.
Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.
Is it time to dream about Europe?published at 18:19 BST 10 August
18:19 BST 10 August
Lewis Deighton Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Leeds United will qualify for Europe this season, is what I would say if I hadn't supported them long enough to know that when things are going well – chaos is never usually far around the corner.
'Second season syndrome' in the Premier League is a popular theory that proposes newly-promoted clubs suffer a sharp decline in their second year, often leading to relegation.
So, should Daniel Farke's players be looking over their shoulder? No, I don't think so. In fact, other teams should maybe be looking over their own shoulder at Leeds.
Not only have they impressed in pre-season, but the transfer window too, signing Harry Wilson on a free - with 17 goal contributions in the Premier League last season) - and Tarik Muharemovic for £34.1m - a 6ft 4in centre-half whose ball-playing composure was on show at Juventus. If that wasn't enough, Leeds acquired England's next number one in James Trafford in a deal worth up to £45m. He's the Championship record holder for most consecutive clean sheets (12) and won a double at Manchester City last season.
Along with the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach and Dominic Calvert-Lewin - this astute business has in my opinion made the Whites strong enough to be looking up, rather than down.
Leeds United will again survive in the Premier League this season, that I will confidently say. Europe? Well, we can dream. I've got us as strong outsiders.
Leeds brush aside RB Leipzig in friendly at Elland Roadpublished at 18:00 BST 8 August
18:00 BST 8 August
Image source, Getty Images
Leeds United continued their pre-season campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig at Elland Road on Saturday.
Strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha were both on target in a match played over 120 minutes to give both teams the opportunity to distribute as many minutes as possible to their squads.
Calvert-Lewin converted an inviting Joe Rodon cross after just seven minutes with Nmecha doubling the lead deep into the second period with a sharp near-post finish from a Wilfried Gnonto delivery.
It was a fine result over last season's third-place finishers in the Bundesliga, owned by energy drink company Red Bull who also own a minority ownership stake in Leeds and are front-of-shirt sponsors for both teams.
'An ambitious purchase' - but have Leeds 'overpaid' for Trafford?published at 10:08 BST 7 August
10:08 BST 7 August
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We asked for your views on Leeds United securing the services of Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford for a club-record fee.
Here are some of your thoughts:
Jason: This is a bold yet smart move for Leeds. It is a heck of a price tag, but it shows commitment to establishing Leeds as a Premier League force. He hasn't truly established himself in the Premier League yet, but he has the platform he needs to push his career and help us avoid the 'yo-yo' tag.
Maddison: It is absolutely sensational. I've got tears in my eyes. I'm waiting for someone to scream: 'April fools!'
Clara: Leeds have overpaid for Trafford. Around £25-30m would have been a fairer price. The 20% sell-on fee that Manchester City have negotiated is steep too. For £45m, you would want to be retaining the full transfer fee of any future sell on. It is a better piece of business for City than it is for Leeds.
Kieran: A great signing, but I'm in the minority of fans who believe we should have kept Illan Meslier, who will go on to be a great player.
Mark: On the face of it, it is a solid and ambitious purchase. But it is difficult not to feel that City have done good business here and Leeds have taken a massive punt. We did need a stand-out goalkeeper, though, and we've got one. The best we've had since Kasper Schmeichel 15 years ago.
'It is going to be a lot of fun' - Trafford aims to rise above pressurepublished at 08:28 BST 7 August
08:28 BST 7 August
Image source, Getty Images
"I don't really care if I have a point to prove," says Leeds United's newest signing James Trafford after sealing a club-record move to Elland Road, which also sets him apart as the most expensive British goalkeeper in history.
The 23-year-old, who has signed a deal worth up to £45m, believes he can rise above the pressure of his hefty price tag, adding: "I'm just going to go out there, try as hard as I can and have as much fun as I can.
"I know my own abilities, so everything that comes with it is what it is.
"I'm just really excited and really happy that this deal is finally done. I can get on with preparing for the new season now.
"This is one amazing club, full of energy and passion. That goes a really long way because the energy of the team, the players and the fans contributes to results and performances.
"It is a great place for anyone, let alone myself, to play at."
Trafford made 17 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City last season and played a big part in the club's Carabao Cup and FA Cup triumphs.
"The league is a better place for Leeds United being in it because of the way they want to play, who they are as a club and the history they have," he added.
"Everyone here wants to take this club back to where it has been historically and believes it is going to happen. With the energy, physicality and quality in this team, who knows what's going to happen? It is going to be a lot of fun."
Supporters could get a first glimpse of Trafford when Leeds United host RB Leipzig in a pre-season friendly at Elland Road on Saturday, 8 August (14:00 BST).
Leeds sign Trafford from Man Citypublished at 19:30 BST 6 August
19:30 BST 6 August
Image source, Getty Images
Leeds United have agreed to sign goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City.
The 23-year-old will move in a deal worth up to £45m having joined City from Burnley for £27m last summer.
Manchester City have secured a 20% sell-on clause as part of the agreement.
The move represents a new record fee for a British goalkeeper, surpassing the previous benchmark of £30m which Everton paid Sunderland for Jordan Pickford in 2017.
It also makes him one of the most expensive goalkeepers in history, with only Kepa Arrizabalaga (£68m) and Alisson (£62m) commanding higher fees.
Pre-season with Farke reminds me of Klopp - Wilsonpublished at 12:20 BST 6 August
12:20 BST 6 August
Aadam Patel Football reporter
Image source, Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Harry Wilson believes that pre-season under Daniel Farke at Leeds reminds him of his time at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp.
Wilson, 29, joined Leeds on a free transfer this summer after five years at Fulham, where he scored 36 goals in 187 appearances. The Wales international came through the academy at Liverpool and made his debut under Klopp.
Asked about pre-season after Leeds beat Liverpool 4-2 in Chicago on Sunday, Wilson said: "Yes, it's been really tough. I think from my younger days when I was at Liverpool with Jurgen - I don't know if it's a German thing - but there's a lot of running involved and it's been definitely more than what I've done the last few years for sure. The lads did warn me about that. I think now the games have started, it has calmed down a little bit but I'm feeling really fit and feeling good."
Under Farke, Wilson revealed that the order has been double sessions, with the first session on the pitch involving a lot of distance and the second session gym-based.
"I think we've only had one day where there's been no footballs other than the two testing days at the start," he said.
"As long as the balls are out, I don't think the lads mind it. It has been quite physically demanding, but I think we feel a lot better for it on the pitch.
"We did a 1km run in the first week and that was something Jurgen used to do as well. So, maybe it is a German thing. But I remember under Jurgen I felt really fit and I'm hoping that will be the case here too."
Wilson was close to a move to Leeds last summer but a deadline day move fell through and he went on to have an impressive individual campaign at Fulham, scoring 11 goals and getting eight assists.
He added: "I feel like last season my full focus was on Fulham and Wales and having a good season and trying to put myself in the best position. And then the club came back this year and I didn't forget what they were saying last year. With the talks and the plans for the future and stuff, I felt it was the best place for me.
"I just think the ownership group, the plans they have for the club - they know the size of the club with the fan base and the history and the work they're doing to the stadium already to increase the capacity, the investment they're putting into the squad. I think it's all just going in one direction and that's what I want to be a part of."
Leeds continue their pre-season with a friendly at Elland Road against RB Leipzig this Saturday (14:00 BST) before a trip to Dublin to face Manchester United on 12 August (19:30 BST).
What are the new financial rules Premier League clubs must stick to?published at 06:46 BST 6 August
06:46 BST 6 August
Katharine Sharpe and Simon Casson BBC Sport senior journalists
The 2025-26 Premier League and Championship seasons included the introduction of squad-cost ratio rules on a shadow basis, testing to see how a spending cap for squad costs set at a percentage of a club's total revenues might work.
These SCR regulations have now been permanently implemented for the 2026-27 season, replacing previous profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
Uefa has a 70% SCR cap for European competitions, so Premier League clubs who qualified for Europe fall in line with this limit.
Clubs who did not qualify for Europe, and so are only taking part in domestic competitions, are capped at 85% of their total revenue.
However, clubs can spend above the 85% limit by using a multi-year rolling allowance of 30%. This allows them to invest ahead of revenue and variance or sporting underperformance.
Every club will start this coming season on 85% + 30% allowance, so effectively 115%.
If a club spends 105% on their squad in 2026-27, it means they have used 20% of their allowance, and for 2027-28 their maximum spend before potential sporting sanction is 95%.
If a club spend less than 85%, they can increase the allowance again to the maximum of 30%.
Spending above 85% but under the allowance results in a financial penalty, whereas going over both the 85% and the allowance will land the club a fixed six-point deduction which increases by one point for every £6.5m spent over the 115%.
'Anchoring' was also trialled in 2025-26, which meant any club's spending could not exceed a multiple of income earned by the bottom-placed club - however this was rejected at a vote of Premier League clubs.
SCR was approved by a vote of 14 clubs to six, and was introduced alongside sustainability and systemic resilience (SSR) regulations.
SSR involves three tests that are applied throughout the season:
Working capital test - assesses short-term cash resources
Liquidity test - assesses medium-term liquidity and resilience
Positive equity test -assesses long-term financial health
The aim of the SCR and SSR regulations is to stop the richest owners providing endless funds to their clubs to sign new players, as any money injected this way does not count as seasonal revenue.
They will also aim to prevent clubs from overspending and accruing unmanageable losses.
A youngster to watch - Alfie Cresswellpublished at 08:51 BST 4 August
08:51 BST 4 August
Michael Emons BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
When 19-year-old midfielder Alfie Cresswell makes his senior debut for Leeds, he will be the third member of his family to do so.
His dad Richard was a striker for the Whites from 2005 to 2007 and older brother Charlie, a defender who has represented the England Under-21s, came through the ranks at Elland Road and made 14 senior appearances before a £3.8m move to French side Toulouse in 2024.
Alfie Cresswell is the captain of the under-21s, featuring in the Vertu Trophy last season, and was an unused substitute in Leeds' last two Premier League matches of 2025-26.
But a first senior Leeds start is not too far away, as he was included in their squad for the tour of the United States, playing in the 3-2 friendly loss to Wrexham in Florida and the 1-0 win over Sunderland in New Jersey.
Image source, Shutterstock
