Over the past 25 years, Leeds United It has benefited from a number of star players, most recently after failing to secure immediate promotion to the Premier League.
The Whites have concluded deals with clubs such as Barcelona, Manchester City and Manchester United, but who is Leeds' most expensive transfer of all time?
Football fancast I took a look at Leeds United's most expensive sales in their history, according to Transfer marketwith a detailed look at the top 10.
|
Leeds United's most expensive sales ever |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
player |
expenses |
Sold to |
year |
|
1 |
Rafinha |
£55m |
Barcelona |
2022 |
|
2 |
Calvin Phillips |
45 million pounds sterling |
Man City |
2022 |
|
3 |
George Rutter |
40 million pounds sterling |
Brighton |
2024 |
|
=4 |
Archie Gray |
30 million pounds sterling |
Tottenham |
2024 |
|
=4 |
Rio Ferdinand |
30 million pounds sterling |
Man United |
2002 |
|
6 |
Crescencio Summerville |
25 million pounds sterling |
West Ham |
2024 |
|
7 |
Tyler Adams |
20 million pounds sterling |
Bournemouth |
2023 |
|
8 |
Luis Sinistera |
20 million pounds sterling |
Bournemouth |
2024 |
|
9 |
Chris Wood |
15 million pounds sterling |
Burnley |
2017 |
|
10 |
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink |
12 million pounds sterling |
Atletico Madrid |
1999 |
Here's a detailed look at Leeds United's top 10 sales…
10
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
£12 million to Atletico Madrid in 1999
Leeds United was Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's first taste of English football, with the Dutch striker joining from Boavista in 1997.
Hasselbaink ended up winning the Premier League Golden Boot in his second season, and after a row over a new deal, he was chosen. He was sold to Atletico Madrid for £12 millionThe club paid five times the fee it paid to the striker.
Related to
9
Chris Wood
£15m to Burnley in 2017
Striker Chris Wood arrived at Elland Road from Leicester City in 2015 and enjoyed two strong seasons with the club, scoring 30 goals in all competitions during the 2016/17 season.
His performances caught the attention of Burnley, and the lure of the Premier League convinced Wood to move to Turf Moor, resulting in the Whites making healthy profits. After a transfer worth 15 million pounds sterling.
8
Luis Sinistera
£20m to Bournemouth in 2024
Luis Sinistra was one of a number of players who exercised their relegation loan clause to leave Elland Road in 2023 and return to the Premier League with Bournemouth.
Jaydon Anthony moved to Leeds on loan from the Cherries, and in February 2024, Sinistera's move to the south coast marked… He was made permanent for a fee of £20m.
7
Tyler Adams
£20m to Bournemouth in 2023
Weeks before Sinistra joined Bournemouth on loan, midfielder Tyler Adams swapped Elland Road for the Vitality Stadium on a permanent transfer, it has been reported. With a value exceeding 20 million pounds sterling.
The US international's campaign at West Yorkshire ended in relegation, but Leeds made a small profit from Adams, while his sale also kept the club in line with Financial Fair Play.
6
Crescencio Summerville
£25 million to West Ham in 2024
After impressing in the Championship and winning the league's Player of the Year award in 2024, it was no surprise that Leeds' failure to return to the top flight led to the exit of Crescencio Summerville.
Leeds signed Somerville from Eredivisie giants Feyenoord for a fee believed to be just over £1m, resulting in a huge profit when West Ham triggered their exit clause. He cost the Hammers £25 million.
5
Rio Ferdinand
£30 million to Manchester United in 2002
Defender Rio Ferdinand was Leeds' record departure for the next 20 years He joined rivals Manchester United in 2002 For a staggering £30 million.
Signed from West Ham in 2000, Ferdinand went from strength to strength at Elland Road, and after Leeds' financial problems, the Red Devils took advantage and made him the most expensive British footballer in history at the time.
4
Archie Gray
£30m for Tottenham 2024
Academy graduate Archie Gray only made his Leeds debut at the start of the 2023/24 season, and less than 12 months later, he was… Joining Tottenham in a huge deal worth £30m.
Gray starred in midfield and at right-back in the tournament and was another player whose release clause was triggered after Leeds lost at Wembley to Southampton in the final.
3
George Rutter
£40m to Brighton 2024
Like Summerville and Gray, Jorginio Rutter also left Leeds in 2024 and was the latest to have a release clause triggered after the club failed to win promotion.
Brighton activated the clause hours before the end of the match, with the Whites making a profit on the fee they paid to Hoffenheim in 2023. Rotter sold for £40m It was the largest amount they received in the summer.
2
Calvin Phillips
£45m to Manchester City 2022
Academy graduate Kalvin Phillips was transformed by Marcelo Bielsa, becoming a regular for Argentine side Leeds between 2018 and 2022.
The defensive midfielder even became a star for England and helped Leeds reach the Premier League, leading to the signings of Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. He took Phillips to the Etihad for £45m. However, Phillips held the record as Leeds' biggest departure for just 11 days…
1
Rafinha
£55 million for Barcelona 2022
Leeds United's most expensive sale ever is Rafinha, who is also the Whites' most talented player of this millennium.
Signed from French club Rennes on the 2020 deadline, Rafinha helped Leeds finish ninth in his first season in the Premier League and almost single-handedly kept Leeds at bay in 2022 before sealing his dream move to Camp Nou. After a transfer deal worth 55 million pounds sterling.
