He is one player whose Leeds United contract expires this summer
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
07:00, 19 Mar 2026
Karl Darlow has a significant summer ahead
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Karl Darlow has a significant summer ahead(Image: Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images)
The next few months mark an important period in Karl Darlow’s career. Perhaps, in some senses, the most important.
He will be looking to keep consecutive Premier League clean sheets for the first time since January 2018 against Brentford on Saturday and then come the biggest two games in his international career.
Darlow has never played at a major tournament for Wales but is two games away from helping Cymru reach this summer’s World Cup. Aged 35, this is more than likely his last shot at reaching football's pinnacle.
The goalkeeper has earned the trust of Craig Bellamy as his number one choice and now comes crunch time - a World Cup play-off campaign. Should Wales beat Bosnia in Cardiff, they will play either Italy or Northern Ireland in the final - at home.
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“It would mean everything,” Darlow said last year when asked about potentially playing at a World Cup. Though, he wouldn’t be the first in his family to go to one - grandfather Ken Leek, a forward, did so at the 1958 finals, albeit did not get on the pitch.
While the next two weeks will decide whether he breaks new international ground for his family, the next two months will help decide Leeds United’s Premier League fate, and maybe his future at Elland Road.
Darlow sees his contract expire this summer amid a headache of a situation for Daniel Farke. The Welshman has become his mid-season number one for a second year running and has, in the main, repaid his manager’s faith.
Though to say he has earned the jersey through manager faith alone is a stretch. In both of the last two seasons, Darlow has started as second choice and Farke heavily hinted in January that he had ideally wanted a new shot-stopper.
Lucas Perri was brought in because, clearly, Farke did not see Darlow as an ample first choice for a full season. The £16m summer signing’s mistakes opened the door for Darlow, rather than the veteran barging it open himself.
Karl Darlow palms the ball away
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Karl Darlow palms the ball away(Image: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
Yet, like last season, he could be the steady hand to take Leeds over the line towards their goal. Aside from a shaky game against Arsenal - whom Leeds were always likely to lose to anyway - Darlow has shown his credentials since taking back the no.1 jersey.
Fantastic reflexes, some very important saves and his commanding penalty-box demeanour have undoubtedly earned Leeds points. One of note was his point-blank save from Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana before jumping up to swipe away the rebound from an attacker.
“It was an unbelievable save,” Farke said after the 1-1 draw. “He’s here in a really good period. I'm happy with my goalkeepers right now, we have had a really good spell.”
This came a week after Perri had saved a spot-kick in the FA Cup penalty shoot-out against Birmingham City, although Farke outlined afterwards that the goalkeeper pecking order would not be changing.
Ther German has gone on record stating how he doesn’t like to change his selection order that often and so Perri has a fight on his hands to usurp Darlow. The chances are that he doesn’t and Leeds are left with a summer decision to make.
If Farke has his way, it would seem a new goalkeeper will likely be sought after. If the board obliges then where does that leave Darlow?
Lucas Perri has currently second-choice goalkeeper
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Lucas Perri has currently second-choice goalkeeper(Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
After all, Perri will not be sold given any sale would certainly incur a loss on the PSR books with finance rules set to change and squeeze Leeds slightly tighter this summer anyway. It therefore seems doubtful that Perri emulates Illan Meslier and sits as a third pick.
Darlow may not wish to settle for third choice himself, and doesn’t deserve to. On the other foot, there is no guarantee that the board will look to bring in another goalkeeper.
If the directive is to give Perri another go, then Darlow might be left asking what more he can do to win the manager’s outright favour. Yet many fans may feel uncomfortable with a goalkeeper who turns 36 in October being the number one choice for next season.
It’s a head-scratching situation and one that may not get resolved until the summer, when transfer priorities are set in stone. Of course, Premier League safety must first be secured.
It could be that survival is Darlow’s last chance to be a number one at a Premier League club. It might not be, but it is possible.
It would seem odd if Leeds did not wish to hand Darlow a short renewal deal regardless of division given his performances and how much stronger he makes the goalkeeper depth.
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But it would be then up to the player himself to make a decision, based on game time prospects and squad status. World Cup or not, this summer might be a significant one for Darlow.