Leeds United

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Leeds United summer signing Jaka Bijol says he "cannot wait to see the fans in the stadium" when Everton visit Elland Road on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 Premier League season.

The 26-year-old defender signed a five-year deal with the newly promoted club, but is suspended from the opener after picking up a red card in his final Serie A match for Udinese.

Bijol said: "It feels good to be here. It has been a good first couple of days - hard ones but good ones, so we keep going from here.

"I've learned so much about this club already in my first week here. I cannot wait to see the fans in the stadium. It's going to be nice, for sure."

When asked what he wants to achieve in his first season at Elland Road, he replied: "I want to take the next step in my career to show myself that I can play at this level and help the team win games.

"I just want to be a consistent player in the Premier League. I want us to show our best performances every week as a team and to get lots of points on the board.

"It was a really successful season for the club [last year]. We have to build on that now and I'm here to help with that. The next step is going to be difficult - we all know it, so we all have to make an extra effort."

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In a new feature this season, the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet will be bringing you match preview editions.

BBC Radio Leeds' Jonny Buchan and Adam Pope are joined by the Kaiser Chiefs' Simon Rix to look ahead to Everton's trip to Elland Road.

The trio discuss all of the big lines from Daniel Farke's pre-match news conference, covering everything from signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, to team news, to the Toffees' biggest threats - plus hear some insight into their Fantasy Premier League picks for the opening weekend.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Everton at Elland Road (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• The weekend will be spent "working" and "preparing the group for an important opener". He added: "We will spend lots of time on the training ground to prepare for it. It is beneficial for us at the minute to have more time on the training pitch, so for that reason we will be focused on our four training sessions."

• A "late decision" will be made on right-back Jayden Bogle, who has been suffering with a hip flexor injury. The defender partly trained on Wednesday and will do so in full on Friday.

• However, new signing Jaka Bijol is definitely unavailable as he is suspended after picking up a red card in his final Serie A match for Udinese.

• Farke is thrilled to have signed Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer: "We are all delighted. As a newly-promoted side, we want to sign players that have already delivered at the top level but are still at a good age and on the way up in their career. These boxes are all ticked."

• However, given "a few doubts" around Calvert-Lewin's injury record and fellow newboy Lukas Nmecha's "problems in the past", the club are not ruling out signing another goalscorer this summer.

• On a "difficult test" against Everton: "They are a really good side and we are respectful of that. We know how difficult it will be to create chances and open them up. We know that from last season. They have also made some ambitious signings this summer."

• On how important Elland Road will be: "We made it our fortress at Championship level. We know it will be difficult to win as many games at this level, but we have to do everything possible to make a fortress out of Elland Road again."

• He described the supporters as "one of the club's biggest assets".

• On whether the approach is to thrive or survive: "Our mindset in each and every game is going to be why we all started football: to win every game. You weren't thinking about the table, money, contracts or survival. You just wanted to go out, play football and be the better side."

• He does feel Leeds are now in the right division: "This club belongs to the Premier League. Everyone is speaking about our potential, calling us a 'sleeping giant'. I think that's true, but if we're being really honest, the club has spent just three years in the top flight over the past 23 years."

• Jack Harrison received some boos after his return from a loan period at Everton, but Farke believes says the supporters' reaction was "normal". He praised the winger's behaviour in pre-season as "top-class", already winning over the staff and players with his attitude.

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Leeds United have confirmed the signing of striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer.

The former Everton man scored 57 goals in 239 Premier League appearances and has signed a three-year deal at Elland Road.

He is the club's eighth arrival since returning to the top flight and boss Daniel Farke said he will be "supporting the team" in the Whites' season opener against Calvert-Lewin's old club on Monday night.

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Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu believes the club can buck the trend and stay in the Premier League this season.

Leeds secured automatic promotion last season from the Championship to the top flight and have made eight signings this summer focused on physicality and bringing height to the squad.

"We know what we are capable of achieving and we have confidence in that," Ampadu told BBC Radio Leeds.

"No-one is going to roll over and accept what has happened in the past couple of years of teams going up and going back down. We are all going to fight to change that.

"We have worked so hard in the pre-season to get our baseline and our standard. Every day we are improving to do more and be better.

"All the new additions that have been brought in are all very good players and very good people. That has helped the squad.

"All the players here have the most confidence in each other to perform every day in training, and every game to achieve what we want to achieve."

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Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

How each promoted side starts the season is one of the best indicators when it comes to survival chances.

Every promoted side over the past 10 seasons with 11 points or more after 10 games has survived, while taking fewer than that has meant an almost guaranteed return to the Championship.

It will be worth bookmarking this article and returning to it on 1 November. That's when all three promoted teams should have played 10 matches - although fixture dates can still be changed.

Incidentally, the two survivors - despite poor starts - were Bournemouth in 2015-16 (eight points after 10 games) and Nottingham Forest in 2022-23 (five points after 10 games).

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BBC Radio Leeds sports editor Jonathan Buchan gives his verdict on summer business:

Leeds have their own theory when it comes to avoiding relegation. Physicality.

That has been the word of the summer so far at the club, who have a strong internal belief that the difference between staying up and going straight back down is height, strength and an ability to win aerial battles in both boxes.

Leeds' first seven signings of the summer have an average height of 6ft 2in, which gives you a sense of that thought process.

Realistically, they need the majority of these signings to hit the ground running to have any hope of survival, and their early recruitment will certainly help that.

However, they also need the new faces at the other promoted clubs to falter and an established Premier League side, or two, to have difficult campaigns.

Their data may breed confidence in avoiding relegation, but football is played on grass, not spreadsheets.

But a fast start is crucial.

Read the full piece

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has offered up his annual predictions:

17) Leeds United

Last season: Championship winners

Someone has got to buck the growing trend of 'three up, three straight back down' from the Championship's promoted sides, so I am going to say Leeds United will break that glass ceiling.

A club of huge stature, Elland Road will be a bearpit this season and will be a difficult environment for any visiting side. This will hold the key to their survival hopes.

Daniel Farke has a new keeper in Lyon's Lucas Perri - signed for £15.6m. It may finally be the time Illan Meslier pays the price for too many high-profile errors.

In Dominic Calvert-Lewin - close to signing on a free transfer after leaving Everton - Leeds are acquiring a striker who has proven Premier League pedigree but has been troubled by long injury absences in recent years.

If he can stay fit, Leeds will have a very valuable asset.

Sean Longstaff provides experience and a competitive edge after arriving from Newcastle United, while additions elsewhere have come in the shape of left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson from Lille, centre-back Jaka Bijol from Udinese, and centre-back Sebastiaan Bornauw and forward Lukas Nmecha from Wolfsburg.

It will be tough - but Elland Road may just sway it.

Read the full piece

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Leeds are tracking Panathinaikos striker Fotis Ioannidis as they look to bolster their strikeforce.

Dominic Calvert-Lewis is due to complete a free transfer to Elland Road but boss Daniel Farke still wants to add more firepower.

Ioannidis has 48 goals in 168 appearances for Panathinaikos and has scored six times in 17 caps for Greece.

He played in Panathinaikos' Champions League qualifying defeat to Rangers last month.

The 25-year-old interested Ipswich last summer while Sporting Lisbon and Porto remain keen.

Leeds also retain an interest in Norwich forward Josh Sargent, who Farke brought to Carrow Road, but he is not a priority as it stands.

Patrick Bamford has been told he has no future under Farke while Mateo Joseph joined Mallorca on loan earlier this month.

Leeds start their Premier League campaign at home to Everton on Monday.

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The draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup has been made.

The EFL Cup remains regionalised in the early rounds, with the draw split into Northern and Southern sections until round three.

Here are the ties involving Premier League clubs:

Northern section

Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United

Burnley v Derby County

Everton v Mansfield Town

Grimsby Town v Manchester United

Sunderland v Huddersfield Town

Southern section

Bournemouth v Brentford

Fulham v Bristol City

Oxford United v Brighton

Wolves v West Ham United

The 23 second-round ties will take place during the week beginning 25 August.

See the full draw over here

Have you got a question about Leeds United or is there a topic you want more information on? Have you spotted a theme or trend that needs further investigation?

Well, this season we're making it easier for you to get in touch and ask - and we will do our best to use our expertise here at BBC Sport to give you direct answers.

Our team can call upon a network of contacts - including our reporters, pundits and other experts - to find out everything you need to know.

No question is too big or too small, so fire away using the link below and we will answer the best of them throughout the campaign.

Ask about Leeds here

And find out more about BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything service here

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We asked for your views on if bringing in Dominic Calvert-Lewin would resolve the club's issues going forward.

Here are some of your comments:

Peter: Calvert-Lewin serves a a potential squad member but hardly a freescoring dependable first choice. At least he has Premier League experience. The addition of a higher scoring prospect, a modern 'Yeboah' relatively unknown would be welcomed!

Al: This is a good start depending on the deal, but certainly shouldn't be the last addition. An experienced number 10 is critical to staying up.

Andrew: Bringing in Calvert-Lewin would go nowhere near resolving Leeds' striking issues. At best, it's someone to bring off the bench. Unfortunately, it smacks of desperation having missed other targets and Leeds clearly don't have the money to sign a top quality striker. Nor does it seem that good strikers want to join Leeds ahead of what is likely to be a season struggling to retain their Premier League status. I really hope they succeed but they are just not strong enough in key areas as the start of the season looms.

Al: Simply not good enough. If he was an out-and-out goal machine a top club would have landed him by now? Too injury prone …. If going for this type of player we should have just stuck with Bamford.

Nick: This has to be a back-up decision, essentially a squad player, with an intention to sign someone else as a first choice option...I hope!

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Leeds United look set to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin with the former Everton striker undergoing a medical at Elland Road.

On this page earlier, BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope had highlighted his concern about the lack of options in forward areas before the Premier League return.

So will bringing in Calvert-Lewin resolve the club's issues?

Is more required?

Get in touch here

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Leeds United's attacking options are a "concern" for BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope with the Whites having made zero recruitments in that area so far this summer.

"You add into the mix that Patrick Bamford is now not a part of his Daniel Farke's plans and Lukas Nmecha was a free agent, so basically they're worse off now than in the Championship," Pope said on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast.

"At no point when we asked Farke [after Leeds drew 1-1 to AC Milan in a friendly on Saturday] about solving the problem in the next week did he suggest he felt something was close to being sorted."

Listen to the full episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet on BBC Sounds

The latest episode of the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast has landed.

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke was once again left talking about a lack of attacking signings as pre-season came to a close in Ireland against AC Milan, so are the Whites ready for the Premier League?

Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix offer their views as we near the big kick-off.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

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Leeds United return to the Premier League following two years in the Championship and German manager Daniel Farke is rebuilding his squad for the third time in successive summers.

After a loan exodus following relegation and then the departure of some of their best players last summer, Leeds are now recruiting for the scrap against the elite of English football.

During their last stint in the top flight they leaked 157 goals across two seasons so have to be much more defensively solid this time around.

In order to do this, their recruitment has focused heavily on defence and midfield.

Leeds have secured players who excel at interceptions and tackles, but who are also tall and love an aerial duel.

Daniel Farke has also changed formation from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3, switching out an attacking number 10, in favour of two roaming number eights.

Defensive upgrades have also been made by bringing in goalkeeper Lucas Perri and left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson.

So the hope for this season is that United have done enough with their tactical change and in recruitment to be very difficult to beat.

But if the hope is in Leeds' defence, the fear is in their forward line.

Lukas Nmecha - who joined on a free transfer - is the only addition so far, but with Patrick Bamford being surplus to requirements and Mateo Joseph leaving on loan, Farke has fewer options up front.

And while Jack Harrison has returned to the club after a second successive loan at Everton, he is no replacement for Manor Solomon who nearly single-handedly won the league last season with his vital contributions in the Championship run-in.

Farke has admitted Leeds need offensive additions before they can compete and win matches - and the Whites hope to have bolstered the forward line with reinforcements by the first international break.

Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock, external

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"I don't think all three promoted teams will go back down because I think Leeds will stay up," said The Observer's Rory Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

For the last two seasons all promoted sides have all been relegated from the Premier League but Smith believes this season could be different because of the way Leeds have recruited.

He also cites Brentford and Wolves look weaker so could suffer a confidence crisis and give Leeds - and one other - an opportunity to capitalise upon.

"Leeds won't struggle for goals because they have the quality in attack to hurt teams and win games," said Smith. "Daniel Farke has clearly tried to add solidity and experience and Sean Longstaff is a great signing.

"They have added a bit of grizzle to their mix and that is important."

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Leeds United are competing with Newcastle United for the signing of 21-year-old Leicester City and Morocco attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has sacked his agent as he attempts to find a new club. The 28-year-old England striker has held talks with Leeds, Manchester United, Newcastle. (Talksport), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport

Once defender Omar Alderete's transfer from Getafe to Sunderland is completed, it will take spending by the three newly promoted clubs to over £300m this summer.

Excluding Alderete, the Black Cats have paid out an estimated £122m on 10 players. Burnley have brought in 13 new faces at a cost of approximately £100m, while Leeds United have invested £73.5m on seven signings.

There is little doubt that consolidating top-flight status is harder than ever, with the gulf between the Championship and Premier League continuing to widen. In each of the previous two seasons, the three sides that came up went straight back down.

As a consequence, clubs are spending ever increasing sums in the hope of remaining competitive, but with no guarantee it will pay off.

Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City shelled out a total of £276.5m last summer but together they accumulated just 59 points, the lowest combined figure by newly promoted teams in a 38-game Premier League season.

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We asked for your views on whether Leeds are ready for the new season after the Whites completed their pre-season campaign with a 1-1 draw against AC Milan in Dublin on Saturday.

Here are some of your comments:

John: Unfortunately, I think we are in for a very difficult season to remain in the Premier League. Recruitment in offensive areas is nill! If they don't spend big, I'm sure we'll go down. One thing I can guarantee: the atmosphere for every match home and away will be electric and that is why the Premier League is a better place if we can stay up.

Graham: Defensively, we're ready, but up top we need a proven PL-level striker or we'll end up like Burnley - 0-0 draws every other week. On a slightly more serious note, I hope we give Farke a good run at it and our fans don't scream for him to be sacked three games in. We all realise it's going to be a struggle, so have some patience!

Keith: Impressed by the first signings. A set of 'giants' that will make us hopefully stronger defensively, but the silence since the signing of Perri hasn't been golden. We look weak up front, not convinced with either frontman we currently have. It's amazing that we've had so much time since promotion was achieved but didn't have a plan B, C or D just in case our first option fell through - which it did. I've confidence that in the next couple of weeks we will get a full-back, winger or number 10 and a striker, but they need to get a wriggle on and not wait till the last minute.

Garry: Pre-season has been steady, but with the new signings also looking promising. We still need cover for left-back, although Pascal can play there. I get the feeling we are going to see Harry Gray get game time too. Love how most odds have Farke to be among the first to get sacked. No chance!

Alex: We've built good depth in the defence with the signings of Bornauw Bijol and Gudmundsson. We've also improved the midfield with the signing of Anton Stach, who has looked good in pre-season and Sean Longstaff. They add to an already good midfield. Then, we've solved our goalkeeper problem with the signing of Lucas Perri and a new striker will improve our depth up top. Overall, I think we are ready for the Premier League and can hopefully stay up next season.

Robert: No, we are NOT ready yet. Since Bielsa, we have failed to get in at least ONE proven Premier League-quality striker. Some good business has been done, BUT, until we have the proper goalscoring firepower, we will still be among the relegation favourites. Get a move on.