Leeds United have had a pretty solid hit rate when it comes to their signings in 2024.
The Whites brought in 10 new faces over the course of the calendar year, the majority of which have been able to make a decent impact on Daniel Farke‘s side.
Despite bringing in over £100 million in sales from the likes of Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter, Leeds instead went down the route of savvy recruitment to try and replace them, which they seem to have done well. Here are our grades for each of the 10 signings.
Leeds’ 10 signings in 2024 graded
Connor Roberts – C
Leeds brought in Connor Roberts on loan from Burnley as their only signing in January to replace the outbound duo Djed Spence and Luke Ayling.
However, due to Gray’s form at right-back, Roberts failed to establish himself under Farke and started just two league games.
His equaliser in the win over Leicester City and assist against Huddersfield Town did seem crucial at the time, which is why he gets a solid C.
Joe Rodon – A
After a brilliant season on loan from Tottenham in 2023/24, Joe Rodon immediately became Leeds’ number one target for the summer.
Following weeks of speculation surrounding whether he would return, Leeds eventually got a deal done for around £10 million.
Rodon’s first couple of matches after joining permanently were slightly iffy, but nothing to suggest he deserves knocking down from anything other than top marks.
Alex Cairns – D
There isn’t really much to say about Alex Cairns‘ arrival. He came in as Leeds’ third choice ‘keeper, and that is exactly what he’s done, which is why he can’t really score any higher than a D.
Cairns is a good person to have in the dressing room, cost a nominal fee, and isn’t going to kick up a fuss about not playing.
Joe Rothwell – B
Signing on a season-long-loan from Bournemouth around the time Glen Kamara headed for the exit door, Joe Rothwell‘s arrival wasn’t met with the most inspiring of reactions.
And after spending the first two months sat on the bench barely playing more than 10 minutes a game, he did little to change that opinion early on.
However, after coming into the team due to Ethan Ampadu’s injury in September, he has gone onto prove all of his doubters wrong with a string of outstanding performances.
Farke has been delighted with Rothwell‘s performances, and rightly so.
Jayden Bogle – B
Like Rothwell, Jayden Bogle received a bit of criticism early on after his arrival from Sheffield United, but has gone onto prove a strong piece of business.
Much of Leeds’ width under Farke is provided by the full-backs and that is something which suits Bogle well, as shown by his impressive return in the final third.
Although some of his defensive contributions can be improved, Bogle has gone onto establish himself as part of one of the strongest back fours in the league.
Largie Ramazani – B
Largie Ramazani would’ve been well on course for an A had he not picked up an injury that ruled him out for six weeks in late-October/November.
After coming into the team, Ramazani looked like Leeds’ most dangerous attacker and managed a run of three goals and one assist in six starts.
Farke has used the last few weeks to get him back up to speed and if he can return to that previous form, he could quite easily be an A come May.
Manor Solomon – C
This is another which could quite easily be higher in a few weeks time after some of the performances he has delivered lately, but it is hard to score Manor Solomon over a C just yet.
Solomon arrived at the club on loan from Spurs in the summer with Champions League and Premier League pedigree, but took a while to really show that.
He has managed to find some confidence since scoring twice at Swansea City, though, and has a big role to play in the second half of the season.
Ao Tanaka – A*
Placing both performances and cost into consideration, Ao Tanaka is undoubtedly Leeds’ signing of the year.
Tanaka has won player of the match almost every time he has started for Leeds and at just £3 million, there won’t be many better value for money signings in the club’s history.
Neil Redfearn hailed Tanaka as ‘elite‘ back in November and hopefully it is at Leeds where he can go onto play at the top level, because that is where he belongs.
Isaac Schmidt – D
It feels harsh to score Isaac Schmidt so low considering how little he has played, but that is also the reason it can’t be higher than a D.
Schmidt cost around the same price as Tanaka and so it’s not like he arrived for pennies in the summer.
He has shown glimpses of what he can do in some of the brief cameos he has had as a substitute and hopefully the second half of the campaign brings him more opportunities.
Josuha Guilavogui – C
Leeds’ 10th and last signing of the year came back in October as Josuha Guilavogui arrived on a free transfer following injuries to Ampadu and Ilia Gruev.
Guilavogui was never going to come in and play much but Farke wanted someone who could have an impact on the dressing room, which is what he’s done.
He already seems extremely well liked by his teammates and Guilavogui’s pre-match speech against Swansea back in November shows exactly what he’s about.
Grading all 10 of Daniel Farke’s Leeds United signings in 2024 as ‘elite’ bargain handed top marks
