Leeds United appear to have finally found the new striker they have been searching for as Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks set to make a move to Elland Road.
Having already moved out Joe Gelhardt to Hull City and Mateo Joseph on loan to RCD Mallorca, Leeds’ options in attack look limited, with Patrick Bamford also expected to depart.
Now, it appears that Daniel Farke has signed the striker he so desperately craves, as England international Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks set to sign for the Whites ahead of their season opener against Everton.
Calvert-Lewin’s injury problems in recent years have been well-documented, as he has struggled to recapture the form which catapulted him into contention for England under Gareth Southgate.
However, his comments about what he wants from his next move will reassure Leeds fans about his hunger to succeed, as he looks to force his way back into the frame for his country.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin in action during Everton FC v Ipswich Town FC - Premier League
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin is not content with survival
Former Everton striker Calvert-Lewin appeared on the High Performance Podcast in June 2025 and opened up on the battle for form and fitness which plagued his final years at Goodison Park.
Speaking before his move to Elland Road was announced, Calvert-Lewin said that he did not want to survive with his next club. He wanted to find a move that allowed him to reach the top level of the game.
He said, “Wherever I play, I want to win, and I want that environment to be a winning environment. After like the last three, four seasons, it’s been, like you say, a lot of survival. So, I want to make sure it’s a winning environment; that’s the main thing for me.
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“When I started my career, I wanted to play in the Premier League, I wanted to represent England, and I wanted to go to major tournaments with England, and I wanted to play in the Champions League.
“I’ve been to a major tournament with England, I’ve played in the Premier League, I haven’t played in the Champions League, so there are still things that I would like to achieve before my time is done. So they are the main factors that come in.
“I have an opportunity to decide potentially where that place will be, and if it has those things, it gives me the best opportunity, the best environment to win and score goals.
“Ultimately, that will become the driver of me getting back in the England team, playing in the Champions League, and I think that’s always been my driver to perform at the highest level possible in whatever I do and my representation of that is Champions League football, World Cups, Euros and getting into that bracket of elite players.”
Dominic Calvert-Lewin playing for Everton.
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Calvert-Lewin deal ramps up the importance of Leeds United’s next transfer move
Whilst Farke will be relieved that the deal for Calvert-Lewin appears to be close to completion, in some ways, it makes Leeds’ next move in the transfer market even more important.
Calvert-Lewin thrives on good service, and he had this in abundance in the 2020/21 season when he scored his career-best 16 Premier League goals.
Everton pulled off a transfer coup that season, bringing in former Real Madrid star James Rodriguez, who provided six goals and four assists, according to the data from Whoscored.com.
Leeds continue to be linked with Bilal El-Khannouss to play at number 10, and exciting AC Milan forward Noah Okafor to bolster their options in attack. If they can pull these two deals off, then Calvert-Lewin should receive the service he needs to thrive.