In the modern-game, huge money has to be spent to help clubs compete at the very top-level, as seen at Leeds United in the recent summer transfer window.
Promotion from the Championship handed Daniel Farke yet another chance to shine in the Premier League, but he certainly needed added reinforcements to achieve survival.
The hierarchy backed him with £90m worth of additions during the off-season, which has allowed the Whites to sit outside of the drop zone with just 12 games remaining.
daniel-farke-leeds
Given the failures of the last six teams who were promoted, it was expected that Farke’s men hadn’t conducted enough business to secure a second successive season in the top-flight.
However, if they are to remain on the right side of the line come the end of May, it will largely be down to the contributions of two bargain additions made at Elland Road.
Leeds United’s best free transfers since 2020
Eyebrows were raised at Leeds during the summer, after it was confirmed they had secured the signature of striker Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer after his release from Wolfsburg.
The German only netted three times in 20 appearances last season, but he’s been a phenomenal addition for the Whites during his first six months in Yorkshire.
lukas-nmecha-leeds-birmingham
He’s already netted six league goals for Farke’s men, with his key contributions potentially being vital after all 38 games are completed this campaign.
Nmecha isn’t the only free transfer who has managed to catch the eye at Elland Road, with fellow striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin also exceeding the expectations many placed upon him.
The 28-year-old arrived on a free transfer from Everton during the off-season, but very few supporters would have imagined the move would have been as successful as it has.
The Englishman has already netted 10 goals in England’s top-flight in 2025/26, a tally that subsequently places him at the top of the club’s goalscoring charts.
The Leeds star who is the joint most valuable player in the squad
Even before Leeds’ latest spell in the Premier League, the hierarchy managed to complete numerous impressive free transfers, none more so than Pablo Hernandez.
Pablo-Hernandez-Leeds
Back in January 2017, he joined the club on a permanent basis, going on to register a total of 36 goals and 41 assists from 175 outings for the Whites.
He was a pivotal part of Marcelo Bielsa’s side during the promotion-winning season, remaining a key member of the squad the following year as the club ended their long wait for Premier League football.
However, Pascal Struijk is another player who joined the club on a free during a similar period, after arriving from Dutch club Ajax back in the summer of 2018.
He only made five appearances during the promotion-winning campaign, before becoming a regular first-team player under Bielsa in what was the club’s first season back in the top flight.
pascal-struijk-leeds-championship (2)
However, despite relegation, he remained at the club, often taking the armband and reaching the next stage of his career, with his move looking like a bargain.
Nearly six years on from his subsequent transfer to Yorkshire, he’s racked up a total of 184 appearances for the club, even winning promotion on two separate occasions.
In the current campaign, Struijk has now racked up 23 appearances across all competitions - with the players benefitting from Farke’s decision to switch to a back three.
As a result of his consistent showings in Yorkshire, the defender has seen his value skyrocket, which highlights how much of an impressive deal the hierarchy conducted in getting him for free.
Pascal Struijk's stats since joining Leeds in 2018
Season
2019/20
2020/21
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
2025/26
Total:
He’s now valued at £17m by Transfermarkt, with such a figure valuing him as the joint highest valued player at the club, alongside Anton Stach, Ethan Ampadu and Wilfried Gnonto.
Such a figure is also higher than that of talisman Calvert-Lewin, who’s still only valued at £12.5m by the same site despite his recent flurry of goals in the league.
pascal-struijk-leeds-lucas-perri
As for Struijk, his move to Leeds in the summer of 2018 will certainly go down as one of the club’s best pieces of business in recent history - especially if he continues on his current path.
With the season rapidly drawing to a close, the defender is likely set to play a crucial role in their survival hunt, with the fanbase desperately needing him to maintain his recent displays.
noah-okafor-leeds-chelsea Related
Okafor upgrade: 2022 sale is now worth more than every Leeds player
This former Leeds United star is now worth more than every player in Daniel Farke's current squad.