'I really enjoy playing in this team and playing for this manager'published at 12:17
12:17
Image source, Getty Images
Defender Sam Byram has said he is "hungrier than ever" as Leeds United prepare for the new Championship season.
The 30-year-old admitted it took some time to recover from the "kick in the teeth" of play-off final defeat by Southampton but insists he is now "excited to be back".
Byram played the second half of Friday's 3-0 friendly win at Harrogate Town.
Asked if he thinks he is going to play on the right or the left of defence, Byram told BBC Radio Leeds, external: "Wherever. You get to my age and you just enjoy playing.
"I really enjoy playing in this team and playing for this manager. If it's right-back, left-back or centre-back, I'm happy to contribute where I can."
'Important we are not in red-hot form too early'published at 10:15
10:15
Image source, Getty Images
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has said his squad will be "ready to go" when "the real stuff starts" after a pre-season win at Harrogate Town.
Junior Firpo, Georginio Rutter and Sam Chambers were on target as the Whites secured a 3-0 victory on Friday.
"We all know last season was long with many odds against us - and it was of course heartbreaking," Farke told BBC Radio Leeds, external after the game.
"You need a few weeks to recharge and be ready for the new season.
"This pre-season is nearly six weeks of work. I'm quite sure when the real stuff starts we'll be ready to go.
"After such an exhausting season, it's important we are not in red-hot form too early because you have to keep that for the 46 games."
Kristensen close to Frankfurt loanpublished at 08:09 19 July
08:09 19 July
Adam Pope BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Leeds United defender Rasmus Kristensen is on the verge of joining Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt on a season-long loan.
The Denmark international spent last season on loan at AS Roma, making 31 appearances for the Serie A side.
Kristensen joined Leeds from Red Bull Salzburg on a five-year deal in June 2022 for an undisclosed fee.
'I just felt like I belonged here' - Rodonpublished at 18:57 18 July
18:57 18 July
Image source, Getty Images
Leeds United defender Joe Rodon says joining the club on a permanent deal "felt right".
The 26-year-old completed a move to the Whites, believed to be worth about £10m, from Tottenham on the same day academy graduate Archie Gray went the other way.
Despite reported interest from Premier League sides, the Wales international decided to make the switch to the club he spent last season on loan with, having featured 50 times across all competitions.
"Being respectful to everyone, I just felt like I belonged here," Rodon told BBC Radio Leeds.
"Looking forward to the next years I just felt that Leeds was the place for me and the way it ended last season, it just doesn't sit right with me. I feel like coming back and knowing the team we had last year was so close [to promotion], coming back was the move for me and it felt right.
"Everyone knows the first time I walked through the doors here, everyone has been brilliant with me since day one.
"I don't want to go too much into it, everyone knows Leeds is a massive club and I felt that when I arrived. The connection, the fans, the club, players and staff - it just felt right and hopefully there are bigger things to come."
'I am glad I was calm and waited for my opportunity'published at 11:15 18 July
11:15 18 July
Image source, Getty Images
Leeds United forward Mateo Joseph feels he made a "good choice" to "trust the club" and stay with them last season.
The 20-year-old struggled for regular playing time in 2023-24 and had to wait until December before getting his first minutes, competing with Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe for a place in the team.
His best moment, however, came in the FA Cup when he scored twice in the Whites' fifth-round tie against Premier League side Chelsea.
"They told me I have to be patient. When you go to another place [on loan] you never know what can happen, so I am glad I stayed.
"I am glad I was calm and waited for my opportunity, which I think I took every time they gave it to me."
The Spain Under-21 international featured twice in the play-off campaign that ended in defeat by Southampton and is hoping he can help Leeds push for promotion again this season.
"It is going to be difficult, the Championship always is," he added.
"It's very competitive. It will be more tight [this time] because last year you could see three or four teams with difference to the rest.
"We will have to give everything in games and training to achieve our objective."
'It's my season' - Josephpublished at 20:20 17 July
20:20 17 July
Adam Pope BBC Radio Leeds reporter
A brace at Chelsea in the FA Cup and rescuing a point with an equaliser with his first touch as a substitute at Watford had many willing for striker Mateo Joseph, 20, to earn his first league start in a Leeds shirt last season.
He was breaking through but not sufficiently enough for manager Daniel Farke to oust either Patrick Bamford or Joel Piroe from the starting line-up for the Spain Under-21 international.
Joseph says he is now more than ready, and some, telling me: "I always work really hard but I have to take this season with all I have. I think it's going to be my season. I don't want to sound too confident but I just can't wait to prove it and for the season to start."
Since making a seven-minute cameo appearance at the end of the losing Championship play-off final at Wembley against Southampton Joseph says he has had no time to mope.
"I've prepared myself for this season like I never did. I haven't stopped training," he added.
He is making the sacrifice of not playing for Spain at the Olympics, citing that everything happens for a reason.
"Everything I see I have to improve, I will do it," he explained.
"Every spare time I have I'll even read about other players or athletes to learn how to train better or to get better in my style of play. Now in training against players - all defenders - like Pascal (Struijk), Joe (Rodon) and Ethan (Ampadu) you can see you manage better against them."
The former England Under-20 international, who is from Santander and has an English father and Spanish mother, has now declared his allegiance for the country where he was born. So how did he celebrate his nation's Euro 2024 victory at training this week?
"The next day I came with my Spain tracksuit on," he quipped.
"Joffy (Joe Gelhardt) said he would have done the same if England had won. But we're never going to know."
Joseph seems to be making strong choices and having no regrets.
Kamara completes move to Rennespublished at 20:07 16 July
20:07 16 July
Image source, Getty Images
Midfielder Glen Kamara has left Leeds United to join Ligue 1 Rennes.
It is understood the deal for the 28-year-old is worth less than 10m euros (£8.4m).
Finland international Kamara joined the Whites last summer from Scottish Premiership side Rangers and made 42 appearances, providing four assists.
In a statement, the club said they would like to "thank Glen for his efforts both on and off the pitch while representing Leeds United and we wish him well for the future".
What next for Leeds' midfield after Rothwell arrival?published at 15:09 16 July
15:09 16 July
Image source, Getty Images
On the latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix and Adam Pope tackle the Whites' midfield situation.
Rix: "The arrival of Joe Rothwell may lead to Glen Kamara finalising his move to Rennes for €10m [£8.4m], which would free up money to be spent in other areas.
"There are still question marks over Brendan Aaronsen staying at Leeds. If he does, where does he fit within the system if Rothwell is playing deeper and if one or both of Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto leave?"
Pope: "To lose both Gnonto and Summerville in one transfer window would be a lot of Leeds to cope with."
On the uncertain futures of Liam Cooper and Cody Drameh, Pope added: "With Cooper what sort of deal has he been offered? And no one at the club believes Drameh will sign a new deal."
Watch: Does Rothwell arrival signal Kamara's exit?published at 08:16 16 July
08:16 16 July
Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix discuss new Leeds United signing Joe Rothwell - and whether his arrival means fellow midfielder Glen Kamara is likely to leave Elland Road - on BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast.
A new episode of "Don't Go To Bed Just Yet" from BBC Radio Leeds is now available on BBC Sounds.
Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix discuss the arrival of Joe Rothwell on loan from Bournemouth and how Leeds' midfield may shape up next season.
Two more youngsters extend stay at Elland Roadpublished at 13:04 11 July
13:04 11 July
Image source, Leeds United
Midfielder Rhys Chadwick has signed his first professional contract with Leeds United, which will see him continue his development at Thorp Arch.
The 17-year-old has been given a two-year deal after becoming an integral player in Rob Etherington's Under-18s side which reached the FA Youth Cup final last season.
Chadwick also started a number of matches in the Under-21s' Premier League 2 campaign, after impressing boss Scott Gardner.
Image source, Leeds United
Luca Thomas has also agreed on a one-year contract extension at Elland Road.
The versatile forward - who can play as a striker or a winger - has worked his way through the club's youth ranks, representing Leeds United in the U18 Premier League, Premier League 2 and FA Youth Cup so far.
Thomas made 18 appearances in the Premier League 2 last season, scoring six goals and registering four assists along the way.
Recent Elland Road history as ground comes back under Leeds' controlpublished at 07:38 11 July
07:38 11 July
Adam Pope BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Ken Bates outlined his intention for purchasing Elland Road once he became chairman of the club in January 2005: "Our first task will be to put short, medium and long term plans in place to secure the financial future of the club and these will include buying back, in due course, Elland Road and Thorp Arch."
Two months earlier, the club's ancestral home since 1919 had been sold for £8m to Manchester property developer Jacob Adler by the Gerald Krasner-led board. By the time Bates left in 2013, he had failed to buy it back.
A decade ago, another chairman, Massimo Cellino, wanted rid of the onerous lease agreement on a place where he bemoaned not even owning the chairs.
"We want to buy Elland Road by December, as it’s madness to pay £1.5m per year to rent out the stadium," he said. "We want to own our home."
However, Cellino's tumultuous three-year reign ended with the club still forking out to a landlord, with history repeating itself in what he had referred to as people "throwing money out of the window."
Next up was Andrea Radrizzani. After assuming full control from Cellino, a fanfare was made about the club finally purchasing the ground in 2017. True, it was bought back for around £20m, but it was in private hands again, namely Radrizzani's company Greenfield Investment Pte Ltd. The terms were far more benign but by the time Radrizzani was almost gone, he was prepared to offer Elland Road as security in a deal to buy Sampdoria.
Cue much ire from supporters.
In stepped the 49ers Enterprises, who early last season bought club and ground off the Italian as they upped their ownership in a complete lock, stock and barrel purchase.
A statement on Wednesday confirmed that the original company they used to buy Elland Road had last March transferred all of its share capital to Leeds United Football Club where it is classed as a fixed asset worth £26.2m according to Companies House filings.
The incumbent chairman Paraag Marathe said recently that despite missing out on promotion the development of the ground is on the agenda.
"Money is earmarked, committed, and we are continuing down that path," he said. "If you are asking me this question a year from now, it might be a little bit more complicated because at that point, I'd be ready with a shovel. But everything right now is greenlit as it would have been in either case.”
It seems if the club does throw any money out of its windows, at least it now owns the frames!
Contracts for more Leeds youngsterspublished at 16:04 10 July
16:04 10 July
Image source, Leeds United
Forward Marley Wilson has signed his first professional contract with Leeds United as the Whites prepare for their 2024-25 Championship campaign.
The 18-year-old has been given a one-year deal after impressing in the Under-18 Premier League, FA Youth Cup and Premier League 2.
Wilson is able to play anywhere across the frontline and scored 18 goals in 42 appearances last season.
Image source, Leeds United
Dan Toulson has also put pen to paper on his first pro deal - a one-year contract.
The versatile defender - who played as a holding midfielder, centre-half and left-back last season - is already a key player in the Whites' under-18 and under-21 teams.
Toulson also played every minute in Leeds United's journey to the FA Youth Cup final last season.
Image source, Leeds United
Meanwhile, midfielder Joe Snowdon has signed a one-year contract extension to summer 2025.
The 20-year-old impressed in the Premier League 2 last season, making 12 appearances and scoring four times.
He also featured in a number of cup competitions for the youth team.
Image source, Getty Images
