Ao Tanaka has named his Leeds United Player of the Season for last year, and it’s not Dan James.
In the end, Dan James scooped the Player of the Season award at Leeds United last time round.
The Welshman was a deserved winner with 12 goals and nine assists. But James has been in poor form for Leeds United this season, looking nowhere near the levels he was at last time round.
Daniel Farke has told his Leeds United players to step up and be counted this season. Already it’s looking like the 2025/26 campaign will be a really tough one for the Whites.
One player who hasn’t looked out of his depth so far is Joe Rodon.
Ao Tanaka during Leeds United v Everton - Premier League
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Ao Tanaka gives verdict on Joe Rodon at Leeds United
Leeds signed Rodon from Spurs in a £10million deal last summer. The Welsh international played 46 times in Championship fixtures during the 2023/24 season, which he spent on loan at Leeds United from Spurs, then playing in all 46 league games last season too.
Speaking to GOAL, Rodon’s teammate Ao Tanaka named the 27-year-old centre-back as his Player of the Season for last year. Tanaka explained his decision: “It was centre-back Joe Rodon. He played in all 46 games. I think he’s the MVP. He’s a really good player. And as I’ve said so far, you can see that playing in 46 games is really amazing. He wasn’t captain, but he was a great leader for the team.
“That’s why I voted for him. He can pass the ball from the back, carry the ball, and defend. Last year, it was difficult for me to build up the play without him. He would give me the ball, look after me, and help me out. He also set the line high, so I think it was a really great performance.”
Joe Rodon in action for Leeds.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
Joe Rodon has already given his thoughts on Ao Tanaka
Tanaka’s comments on Rodon come just days after Rodon made a bold prediction for Tanaka at Leeds United this season, naming the Japanese star as the main Leeds player to keep an eye on in the Premier league this season.
Tanaka has been injured recently but returned to the bench last time out as Leeds United lost 1-0 away at Fulham, albeit without coming off the bench.
Next up is a game against Wolves, and Farke could really do with a fit and firing Tanaka at his disposal, with Leeds United looking like they’re really missing a spark in the heart of the pitch right now, which Tanaka can certainly provide.
And Rodon needs to maintain his current reliability at the back. He’s really matured and developed as a player at Leeds United and he’s another who’ll be key this season, though his good work can often go unnoticed at the back.