Leeds thought they had "the new Van Dijk", but Farke sold him for just £2m
da bet nacional： Whilst Leeds United have only managed to win one of their last five Championship matches, Daniel Farke’s side still remain on course to secure promotion come the end of the season.
da bet vitoria： The Whites sit second, just two points behind leaders Sheffield United, with striker Joel Piroe deserving a lot of credit for his performances in the first team throughout 2024/25.
The Dutchman has notched 15 goals in the league throughout this campaign, sitting as the club’s top scorer and second-highest in the division – highlighting his impact.
Jayden Bogle has also cemented his place at right-back in Farke’s side, featuring in 37 outings, with the £5m forked out for his signature in the summer now appearing to be a bargain.
However, high hopes were held for numerous players in recent years, with none of them able to feature at Elland Road anymore after failing to reach their full potential.
Leeds talents who failed to live up to their potential
Midfielder Lewis Bate joined Leeds in a £1.5m deal from Chelsea back in the summer of 2021, with high hopes of becoming a first-team regular in Yorkshire.
However, the 22-year-old would only make five appearances at Elland Road over a four-year period, before leaving on a free transfer and joining Stockport County last summer.
Cody Drameh was another player tipped to have a key role for the Whites as a youngster, having the potential to be a crucial player in the club’s backline after arriving from Fulham in 2020.
After just 10 first-team appearances and three separate loan spells, he also departed on a free transfer in the summer, looking to kick-start his professional career at division rivals Hull City.
The aforementioned pair aren’t the only players to fail to deliver in Yorkshire, with one other star sold after being unable to match the ambitions placed on his shoulders.
The former Leeds star who could’ve been their own Van Dijk
Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has been a leading talent in world football over the past few years, being a leading figure in the Reds’ success under various managers.
Many argue the Dutchman is the best centre-back of all time, winning eight major honours during his time at Anfield, including a Champions League title – helping him finish in the top three of the Ballon d’Or.
Stars like him don’t come around very often, but Leeds could’ve had their own version in the form of Leo Fuhr Hjelde, who was sold to Sunderland back in January 2024.
The 21-year-old originally joined the Whites from Celtic back in 2021, with the potential to emulate the success of Van Dijk given the praise previously heaped on him.
Former Ross County boss John Hughes tipped him to be “the next Van Dijk” before his move to Yorkshire – highlighting how impressive the addition of the defender was at the time.
Leo Hjelde’s stats for Sunderland in the Championship (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
10
Goals & assists
1
Pass accuracy
78%
Chances created
1.2
Tackles won
1.2
Duel success rate
55%
Interceptions made
1.7
Stats via FotMob
However, during his first two years at the club, he was restricted to just six appearances, unable to break into the side given their Premier League status.
An impressive loan stint at Rotherham United saw him return to the fold under Farke in 2023, but would only last six months before being permanently offloaded – joining the Black Cats in a £2m deal.
Whilst he’s only made 12 appearances this campaign, at the age of just 21 he still has bags of time to fulfil the hype that was placed on him as a teenager.
However, any success he will achieve won’t be for the Whites, with the club potentially living to regret their decision to sell him should he get anywhere near Van Dijk’s level.
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