Several of Leeds United’s summer signings have hit the ground running in the Premier League for Daniel Farke this season, which is a credit to the recruitment team.
Sean Longstaff delivered a goal and an assist in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at Elland Road last weekend, whilst Anton Stach scored a stunning free-kick in the 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
One of the most impressive signings of the summer transfer window, though, has been left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson, who arrived from Lille for a fee of around £10m.
What Gudmundsson has brought to Leeds
The Sweden international has brought tenacious and dynamic play to the left flank for the Whites with his eye-catching performances in the Premier League at left-back.
TEAMtalk editor James Marshment claimed that he has been “up there with the best LBs in the PL so far this season” and described the defender as an “absolute bargain” for the £10m fee that was splashed on him.
Gudmundsson ranks within the top 37% of full-backs in the league for xA (0.37), the top 30% for chances created (four), and the top 17% for dribbles completed (five), per FotMob, which shows how effective he has been in possession for the Whites so far.
Barring his unfortunate own goal against Fulham last month, the 26-year-old star, who also ranks within the top 22% of full-backs for duels won (28), has been an impressive performer at the back for Leeds with his play on and off the ball.
First Impressions
What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.
Whilst the Swedish ace looks to be an excellent signing for Leeds, the West Yorkshire outfit did once have a star who was their original Gudmundsson, only to sell him for £1m.
The star who was Leeds United's original Gabriel Gudmundsson
The Whites swooped to sign Leif Davis from Morecambe’s U18 side in the summer of 2018, and he went on to play 14 times for the first-team in total, per Transfermarkt.
In the summer of 2022, after a short loan spell with Bournemouth, the English defender completed a move to then-League One side Ipswich Town for a fee of £1m.
Leeds may rue allowing him to leave for such a small fee because his form for the Tractor Boys since his switch to Suffolk suggests that the club had the original Gabriel Gudmundsson, and they did not know it.
25/26 (Championship)
2
1
24/25 (Premier League)
12
2
23/24 (Championship)
15
18
22/23 (League One)
12
14
As you can see in the table above, Davis has consistently been a huge creative threat for Ipswich throughout his time at Portman Road, in League One, the Championship, and the Premier League.
The left-footed star, who was once described as an “animal” by Scott Parker, has proven himself at the top three levels of English football, which suggests that he could have made the breakthrough at Elland Road if he had been given more time to impress.
Now, per Transfermarkt, Davis is valued at £19m. That is 19 times what Leeds sold him to Ipswich for in 2022, which is another reason why they must regret cashing in on him at the time.
It is a shame that he did not get more than 14 scattered appearances in the first-team before the club decided to sell him to the Blues, because his form since moving on suggests that they had their own Gudmundsson in the making as another dynamic and creative left-back.