When Anton Stach's third free-kick goal of the season nestled into the top left of Emiliano Martinez's goal against Aston Villa on Sunday, a good Leeds United signing became an excellent one.
The German has been a revelation at the heart of Daniel Farke's midfield and is a large reason why the Whites are on course for survival at the first time of asking since earning promotion to the Premier League last season.
Anton-Stach-Dominic-Calvert-Lewin
At the time of his arrival, £17.4m seemed a hefty fee. After all, this was a relatively unknown name for many around Elland Road. A Bundesliga midfielder who had to adapt to the Premier League and Leeds' survival needs.
Now, seven months later, that big price tag looks like a bargain and Stach appears to be one of the most underrated signings of the season.
How Anton Stach became undroppable at Leeds
Stach has started 21 of 27 Premier League games this season and it's easy to see why he has become one of the first names on the teamsheet at Elland Road.
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Farke's system change, switching to a 5-4-1, has benefitted several Leeds stars. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has thrived, for example, and the same can be said for Stach at the heart of that four-man midfield.
No player in the squad has more than the midfielder's three assists for Leeds this season and that should come as no surprise when considering just how many chances he's created.
|Premier League chance creation 25/26|
|Player|Chances created|Mins played|
|---|
|Bruno Fernandes|76|2,074|
|Declan Rice|50|2,326|
|Dominik Szoboszlai|47|2,241|
|Bukayo Saka|46|1,728|
|Florian Wirtz|45|1,851|
|Enzo Fernandez|44|2,235|
|Elliot Anderson|42|2,416|
|Anton Stach|42|1,776|
|Mohamed Salah|41|1,612|
It's quite the company that Stach is holding this season. The towering midfielder has created more chances than Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and the same amount as Elliot Anderson, who's been tipped to leave Nottingham Forest for big money this summer.
Farke can't ask for a lot more from the 27-year-old, whose ability to score stunning free-kick goals has simply been the cherry on top of an excellent debut campaign.
But is there an argument that another Leeds signing has been even better than Stach since arriving?
Leeds star is their best signing since Hernandez
Midfield is where it's at for those in Yorkshire. Alongside Stach, Ethan Ampadu has also stepped up in the Premier League and is quickly becoming Leeds' best signing since Pablo Hernandez.
Pablo-Hernandez-Leeds
The Spaniard was a dynamo in the middle of the park for Whites and while they have signed some mesmerising players since - Raphinha is chief among them - no one beats the consistency of Ampadu.
The Welshman's versatility has been more useful than ever after Farke made the decision to switch to a back five earlier this season. In Leeds' dramatic 2-2 draw against Chelsea, Ampadu excelled in midfield. Against Villa most recently, however, he played alongside Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk at centre-back - impressing once again - losing just two of his defensive duels.
Ampadu vs Aston Villa Stats
Minutes 90
Tackles 5
Recoveries 9
Successful Ground Duels 6/8
It was the complete performance from Ampadu last time out and he's also proved to be the perfect partner for attack-minded Stach when stepping into the middle of the park.
Now into his third season at Elland Road, the 25-year-old rightly holds the captain's armband and looks destined to follow in the footsteps of Hernandez as a reliable mainstay. He may even come out on top given the Spanish maestro was on the decline by the time Leeds reached the top-flight.
Aside from missing three games through suspension and injury, Ampadu has started every single one of Leeds' Premier League games this season - completing 90 minutes in 20 of those games.
ethan-ampadu-leeds
It mirrors the reliability that Hernandez so often showcased in Yorkshire. At the peak of his powers in the 2018/19 campaign, the winger started 37 of the 38 Championship games that he was available - completing 90 minutes 34 times throughout the campaign.
It's not a bad man for Ampadu to follow. Whether it's been through his reliability or his versatility, the 25-year-old is quickly becoming Leeds' best signing since Hernandez after arriving for just £7m in 2023.
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