Leeds United have finally confirmed the departure of Junior Firpo on a free transfer, four years after he left the club and LeedsUnited.News have learned of details between the club and the left-back.
Firpo’s four-year spell at Leeds has come to an end, 116 games after his £13m move to Leeds back in the summer of 2021. A spell that can be split into two halves, the first half poor but the second half, great.
Injuries and a lengthy battle with covid saw Firpo really struggle in the first two years at Leeds, during the Premier League years under Marcelo Bielsa, Jesse Marsch, Michael Skubala, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce.
But under Daniel Farke, Firpo really came good when he finally overcame injury. Last season, he enjoyed his best season in a Leeds shirt, having a hand in 14 goals from left-back and winning the Championship.
Inside talks between Leeds and Junior Firpo over a new deal
Leeds officially said on May 17, in their retained list, that talks were being held with Firpo over a new deal. It came after Firpo urged Paraag Marathe to offer him a deal while partying on Jayden Bogle’s Instagram.
But time has passed, and it became more and more obvious that Firpo would leave the club. Firpo is said to have rejected a contract offer from Leeds, with Leeds keen to keep The Dominican Republic ace.
Graeme Bailey has told LeedsUnited.News that Firpo was willing to stay and Leeds wanted to keep him. But, Firpo would only sign if he was offered a contract that was similar to the one he signed, when joining.
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“From my understanding of Junior Firpo, if he’d been given the same contract that he was on the Premier League last time [he would’ve stayed]. It was described to me as pretty eye watering the previous deal.
“He would have got nowhere near that this time. Leeds were open to him staying but such would have been the drop in salary. I just don’t think he considered it really. It was a nice parting of ways, really.”
Junior Firpo celebrating after scoring for Leeds United vs Sheffield United.
Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
What Firpo was earning when he joined, and who is replacing him
It comes as little surprise that Firpo was on a big wage when he did arrive. According to Capology during the 2021-22 season, Firpo – who joined at the start of that season – was the club’s fourth-highest earner.
A £60k-a-week wage was given to Firpo, who was only behind Rodrigo, Raphinha and Patrick Bamford. Firpo wanted as much again to remain, but Leeds offered terms more in line with where Leeds are at now.
Not a side that had just finished ninth in the Premier League. With Firpo confirmed as leaving on a free transfer and a move to Real Betis expected, Lille’s Gabriel Gudmundsson is expected to replace Firpo.