Leeds United’s promotion to the Premier League means they are among some of the elite sides of English and European football.
For Daniel Farke and the 49ers, making their top flight status stick is the key, which is why Leeds United returned to the Premier League with a flurry of activity in the 2025 summer transfer window.
The squad is, undoubtedly, better, even if Leeds fans have been left frustrated after deadline day. The recruitment team were aiming to build a squad with the experience, physicality, and depth required for survival under Farke.
A difficult end to the window should not take away from that. Also, Farke has explained tactical flexibility in the Premier League is needed. However, Leeds’ rise in recent seasons is why they are rated as a strong side in Europe once more.
Daniel Farke during Leeds' clash against Newcastle.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Opta rank Leeds as the 53rd best team in the world
With the Premier League being the strongest and most diverse league in Europe comfortably, Leeds have been boosted by that in terms of how they are perceived.
Even though Leeds spent less than Sunderland and Burnley in the end, they came up with the best underlying data and the most momentum.
Compared with that duo, the amount of Premier League appearances in the Leeds squad is also substantial. That could also be a factor into Opta’s new power rankings, too.
Updated today, they rate Leeds behind UEFA Conference League finalists Real Betis, with the 2025 losers to Chelsea ranked in 52nd with Leeds in 53rd.
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
Burnley are 56th and Wolves are 48th in terms of the teams closest English teams to the Whites. Leeds’ opponents for the weekend are Fulham and they are ranked 32nd.
Perhaps the four most interesting clubs ranked below Leeds include Dutch giants Ajax in 68th and Carlos Corberan’s resurgent Valencia are 72nd.
Celtic are one of the other huge names Leeds are ranked above, with the Scottish and European giants 58th and five places behind Leeds. Sunderland, the other newly-promoted side, are 71st.
Regis Le Bris during Sunderland vs Coventry City.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Leeds’ survival method compared to Sunderland’s
Given the size and power in the side, it’s fair to say that the 49ers appear to have done their Premier League research on what it takes to survive.
However, the power rankings are subject to change quite easily throughout the season. The Sunderland recruitment, in particular, stood out this summer.
Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra joined Sunderland over Leeds, and it will be interesting to see if they rise or fall as the season develops under Regis Le Bris.
Their method for survival was far different to Leeds’, with the Whites targeting a number of players with experience of battling relegation in various European leagues.