Leeds United odds to win the Championship: Predicted finish, transfers, best players, full squad

Leeds will be hoping for a swift return to the Premier League after their play-off heartbreak last term.

The Whites’ quest to return to the top flight of English football at the first time of asking came crashing down at the final hurdle in 2023/24. After finishing 3rd during the normal season, six points off automatic promotion, it was the dreaded play-offs for Leeds and a Wembley date with Southampton after dispatching Norwich in the semi-finals.

The curse continued and an Adam Armstrong goal was enough to see the Saints clinch the final promotion spot at Leeds’ expense. They must now prepare for another season in the Championship in 2024/25, with vultures already circulating for their top players.

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Latest Leeds odds to win the 2024/25 Championship

Leeds 2024/25 Championship Odds

Team

Leeds odds to win the 2024/25 Championship

Leeds odds to be promoted in 2024/25

7/2

6/5

3/1

11/10

3/1

11/10

*Odds correct as of 10:50 on July 31. 18+ only. GambleAware.

Leeds’ summer transfer window business so far

Leeds’ failure to secure promotion back to the Premier League was always going to mean that they would lose some of their top players this summer. Talented youngster Archie Gray has joined Tottenham, with Joe Rodon, who was on loan at Elland Road last season, going the other way on a permanent deal. The likes of Luis Sinisterra, Glen Kamara, Marc Roca, Charlie Cresswell, Diego Llorente and Luke Ayling have all departed, while the squad has been boosted by the arrivals of Jayden Bogle from Sheffield United and Joe Rothwell on loan from Bournemouth.

Who are Leeds’ most important players?

Leeds’ top Championship Golden Boot contender: Crysencio Summerville

• Key stat: Crysencio Summerville is the first overseas player to score 20+ goals in a single league campaign for Leeds since Mark Viduka in 2002/03.

Last season, Crysencio Summerville truly announced himself to the Championship. The Dutchman had a decent first campaign in the competition with 20 goals and nine assists in 46 appearances, finishing as Leeds’ top goalscorer.

Summerville was one of just three players to hit the 20-goal mark in the Championship last season, trailing only Sammie Szmodics and Adam Armstrong in the Golden Boot charts. His performances have seen him linked with a move to the Premier League this season, with the likes of West Ham being the most interested. And it’s easy to see why, with Summerville finishing in the top five for both fouls won (5th) and take-ons completed (3rd) last term.

Leeds’ primary playmaker: Georginio Rutter

• Key stat: Only Abdul Fatawu created more big chances in the Championship last season than Georginio Rutter (22).

After struggling for game time in the second half of Leeds’ Premier League campaign in 2022/23, Georginio Rutter took his chance with both hands last season.

The 22-year-old finished 2023/24 with more league assists than any other Leeds player (15), while also scoring seven goals. Not only that, but the Dutchman also won more fouls than any other player in the competition (119) and completed the second most take-ons (135), behind only Jack Clarke (148) as he found his feet in English football.

Leeds’ card magnets & top tacklers: Georginio Rutter

• Key stat: Georginio Rutter was the only player to commit and win 50+ fouls in the Championship in 2023/24.

Not only did Georginio Rutter win more fouls than any other player in the Championship last term, but he also committed his fair share. He committed 75 in total last campaign, at least 19 more than any other Leeds player, also picking up eight yellow cards — which was the second most for his side behind Ethan Ampadu (10).

The forward is not afraid to get stuck in, winning the most duels of any Championship player last season (373) and making the third most tackles compared to his teammates (70).

Leeds’ rising star: Matteo Joseph

Now that Archie Gray has departed, Leeds will be looking for their next big superstar and Matteo Joseph will be hoping this will be his breakthrough campaign.

The 20-year-old was mainly used as a late substitute last season, playing 243 minutes of league action in total and scoring one goal. The forward did show exactly what he could do in the FA Cup however, scoring twice against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge as the Whites fell to a 3-2 defeat.

Leeds’ set-piece specialists:

• Penalties: Crysencio Summerville/Joël Piroe
• Free kicks: Crysencio Summerville
• Corners: Crysencio Summerville

Leeds’ tactical analysis & formation

Leeds’ team stats from the 2023/24 Championship season (avg per game):

• Corners: 5.9
• Shots on target: 5.3
• Shots on target conceded: 2.8
• Offsides: 2.1

Daniel Farke has been given another crack at gaining promotion with Leeds and will look to stick to the 4-2-3-1 set up that worked well for the most parts of last season.

Jayden Bogle has been brought in to fill the gap left at right-back by Archie Gray, while Joe Rothwell should slot straight into midfield alongside Ilia Gruev, with Ethan Ampadu expected to renew his centre-back partnership with Joe Rodon after he made his loan deal from Tottenham permanent in the summer. Junior Firpo is a no brainer at left-back, while a front four of Summerville, Rutter, Gnonto and Piroe will strike fear into any defence next season.

Leeds full Championship 2024/25 squad

Leeds FAQs

Where did Leeds finish in the 2023/24 Championship season?

Leeds finished third last season, losing 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley.

Who is the Leeds manager?

Daniel Farke is the Leeds manager, preparing for his second full season in charge after taking over in July 2023.

Who is the current Leeds captain?

Liam Cooper is Leeds’ captain, but Ethan Ampadu wears the armband on the pitch with Cooper’s minutes being limited.

What is Leeds’ best Championship finish?

Leeds won the Championship in 2019/20, finishing the campaign with 93 points and 10 point clear of second placed West Brom.