FRESH willy Gnonto contract and Elland Road future in blur wave after Club reveal KEY aspect yet to be understood.
Many were surprised to see Gnonto remain at Leeds this summer, given the events of last year. The Italian forward went on strike at the start of the 2023/24 season, hoping for a transfer, but soon realized the move wouldn’t happen. Despite that, he redeemed himself with some standout performances in 2024, almost helping Leeds secure promotion. He was praised for his professionalism, even as teammates like Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville, and Georginio Rutter moved to the Premier League.
This summer, reports from TEAMtalk indicated that Everton were once again interested in the 20-year-old, with suggestions of a £23 million bid. However, no move materialized, and instead, Gnonto committed to Leeds by signing a new four-year contract at the end of August, securing his future at Elland Road until 2028. Notably, the contract reportedly lacks a release clause, unlike many of his teammates’ deals over the past three windows.
Still, the general feeling is that if Leeds fail to gain promotion this season, Gnonto will almost certainly leave next summer.
### Promotion is Key to Gnonto’s Future at Leeds
The new contract has excited fans, especially with Gnonto playing a bigger role in Daniel Farke’s squad following the departures of Summerville and Rutter. Gnonto has already shown his value, scoring in Leeds’ draw with Portsmouth and impressing against Sheffield Wednesday with his intelligent play. Promotion is the clear goal this season, and Farke will need Gnonto to be at his best if Leeds are to return to the Premier League.
If Leeds do manage promotion, they will have a better chance of keeping Gnonto, especially given his new contract and the promise of top-flight minutes. His performances so far suggest he’s fully committed to the club and its fans, but promotion will be crucial to securing his long-term future at Leeds.
### Farke and Robinson Weigh in on Gnonto’s Importance
Earlier this summer, amid transfer speculation, Farke praised Gnonto’s development and flexibility on the field. Speaking to the *Yorkshire Evening Post*, Farke said, “We’ve worked a lot with Willy in recent months. We want him to be more versatile in his movements and not too static. He’s shown at times that he’s unplayable, but there’s still room for him to improve and make smarter decisions on the pitch.”
Former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson also highlighted the significance of keeping Gnonto. Speaking to *MOT Leeds News*, Robinson said, “It’s hugely important for the club. The fact that he signed a new contract within 12 months of initially refusing to play in pre-season shows how strong his relationship with Farke has become.”
### It’s Now or Never for Leeds and Gnonto
While the contract extension is great news, it only holds real value if Leeds secure promotion. Otherwise, Gnonto will likely move on, though the contract ensures his market value remains high. A player of his quality should be playing in the Premier League, and he has already demonstrated he can perform at that level, with six goal contributions in his last stint despite Leeds’ struggles.
If Leeds remain in the Championship, they risk repeating the events of 2023, where they had to fight to keep Gnonto against his wishes. Although both sides have moved past that, few at Elland Road expect Gnonto to stick around if the club is still in the Championship for the 2025/26 season.
In the end, Premier League football is the key to keeping Gnonto at Leeds long-term. Failure to secure promotion this season will almost certainly see him follow the likes of Gray, Summerville, and Rutter in seeking new challenges.
