Leeds United will be hoping to end their two-year Premier League exile come the end of the season, with Daniel Farke looking to complete the job in the last eight games of the campaign.
The German has led the Whites to top spot in the Championship, doing a superb job in galvanising the squad after the play-off final defeat last time around.
However, he will be hoping to go one better and avoid a play-off heartbreak repeat by helping the side achieve an automatic promotion spot, currently boasting a two-point lead over third place.
Unsurprisingly, the thought of a return to England’s top flight will be an exciting thought for the fanbase, potentially coming up against some huge clubs once again next year.
If they are to be a success in the division above, additions will be needed to ensure the side is competitive enough to avoid an immediate return, aiming to repeat a deal for one player who starred at Elland Road.
Raphinha’s time at Leeds United
Very few people could’ve predicted how well Raphinha would perform at Leeds after his £17m move from French outfit Stade Rennais during the summer of 2020.
The Brazilian would become an immediate hit with the supporters for his flair and ability to create carnage within the final third, helping the side register a top-half finish in their first year back in the Premier League.
He would go from strength to strength during his time in Yorkshire, registering 11 goals in his second year at the club, cementing himself at the top of the Whites’ goalscoring charts.
However, his second year in England would be his last, with the hierarchy cashing in his splendid form in the final third, joining Barcelona in a £55m deal, the biggest fee received by the club in their history.
His subsequent departure would have a huge impact on their league standing, with the club dropping into the Championship, a position which they are yet to get themselves out of.
Leeds also had one other player who could’ve followed on a similar trajectory at Elland Road, but ultimately he failed to live up to the hype he arrived with.
The Leeds player who's now worth £66.5m less than Raphinha
Their time in the Premier League allowed for added investment into the first-team squad, handing Marcelo Bielsa the tools to build on the promotion-winning campaign.
Directed by Victor Orta, they spent upwards of £100m during the summer of 2020, with Raphinha just one of the players to move to Yorkshire, looking to take their career to the next level.
Helder Costa was another talent to make a big-money move to the club, joining in a £16m deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers, making his move permanent after spending the year on loan the year prior.
The winger notched five goals and six assists in the Championship back in 2019/20, being a key member of Bielsa’s squad during their return to the top flight.
He managed three goals and three assists from his 22 league appearances in their first year back in the top flight, but it would be his final season as a consistent first-team member, with the forward dropping down the pecking order.
The 31-year-old made just two appearances in the first half of the following season, before joining Valencia on loan – but was unable to make the desired impact, making just 13 starts and failing to score a single goal.
It wouldn’t be enough to force himself back into Bielsa’s plans, subsequently being sent out on another temporary stint to Al Ittihad, before being released from his contract in Yorkshire in October 2023.
Games played
71
Cost per game
£225,000
Goals scored
8
Cost per goal
£2m
Assists registered
9
Cost per assist
£1.7m
The attacker cost a staggering £2m per goal he scored during his time at Elland Road – a staggering figure – often failing to deliver within the final third, certainly going down as a waste of money, especially considering he cost just £1m less than Raphinha.
His career has since taken a nose dive in recent years, now featuring for Yunnan Yukun in the Chinese Super League, with his time at Leeds having an impact on his career as a professional.
Costa’s decline can further be seen in his current market value, now valued at just £500k by Transfermarkt, a figure £66.5m lower than the Brazilian, who’s now valued at £67m after his splendid form at Barcelona.
Given his drop-off in recent years, it’s safe to say the club made the right call in parting ways with the attacker, but they must regret forking out £16m for his services – with the wide-man certainly not living up to the price tag.
The difference in value between himself and Raphinha in 2025 should be a stark reminder for the hierarchy this summer, with the right additions needing to be made if the Whites are to continue on their upward trajectory.
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1 ByEthan LambMar 23, 2025