The January signing had a horrid full debut in Sunday's FA Cup clash at Birmingham City
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
16:01, 19 Feb 2026
Facundo Buonanotte
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Facundo Buonanotte(Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Facundo Buonanotte has been brought in to help with squad depth rather than immediately secure a place in Leeds United’s starting XI, says Daniel Farke.
Buonanotte, the club’s only January arrival, was signed on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion after having his loan spell at Chelsea cut short. After two Premier League appearances from the bench, the 21-year-old was hooked off at half-time on his first Leeds start in Sunday’s FA Cup tie at Birmingham City.
This comes after being left out of the squad entirely for the 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest before failing to get off the bench in the subsequent 2-2 draw back at Stamford Bridge. "It's always important you are not carried away by expectations from a signing,” Farke said ahead of Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa.
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“Sometimes you bring a new player in and excitement and expectation is so high. This is the message I gave him when he arrived. We haven't signed him to improve our starting XI straight away.
“We signed him to improve the depth in our squad. We let Jack Harrison and Harry Gray go out on loan. We spoke openly with Facundo about it. We want to make sure we hold the pressure high on our other options."
Buonanotte only played 45 minutes of Premier League football while at Chelsea, albeit did play four cup games and three Champions League fixtures. “It’s never easy when you haven't played in such a long time,” continued Leeds boss Farke.
“He didn’t have the best game in the cup game but this was also a bit realistic and expected when you bring a player in who has barely played a game. I’m happy that I have him because he has improved the depth of our squad.
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“He will get all my support and trust and an arm around the shoulder. I told him ‘listen, I don’t write you off after one poor half - I was half expecting this because you haven’t played for ages.
"'Just keep your head down, get on with a bit of criticism and when you get your next chance try to do better because we believe in you’.”