FINALLY “He is staying”: Leed United startlet forcing for Elland Road Exist agree to extend contract until….
Leeds fans endured a difficult summer as the club had to part with some of their prized players. The departure of Archie Gray, a Thorp Arch academy talent, to Tottenham for £40 million was particularly heartbreaking for supporters.
Glen Kamara, a key player for Daniel Farke’s team last season, also left Elland Road after just one year, joining Ligue 1 side Rennes. Shortly after, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter followed suit, moving to Premier League clubs West Ham and Brighton, respectively. Fans were especially frustrated by Rutter’s departure, which was announced after a 3-0 Carabao Cup loss to Middlesbrough at Elland Road in their second game.
On a more positive note, Leeds did make eight new signings, although most were replacements rather than additions that enhanced the squad compared to last season. However, the announcement of a new contract for Wilfried Gnonto after the transfer window closed provided a boost.
Despite strong speculation linking him with a move away, the Italian star committed to Leeds by signing a contract extension until 2028. He shared the news on Instagram, which helped soften the disappointment of the transfer window for many fans.
Former Leeds icon Stuart Dallas expressed his excitement for Gnonto in the comments, along with supportive messages from Joel Piroe and Largie Ramazani.
Gnonto, who was previously linked with a move to Everton and considered a return to Italy with interest from clubs like Spezia, Genoa, and Parma, explained his decision to stay at Elland Road. He said, “There have been many ups and downs, and going into this season I feel it is important to find some consistency. I feel like the right place to do it is here, so I am really happy and can’t wait to keep going.”