Leeds United statement as defender contract decision confirmed ahead of Bundesliga move

Leeds United have confirmed the permanent exit of Max Wöber following a mutual agreement to terminate his contract.

Wöber signed a four-and-a-half year deal upon joining Leeds from RB Salzburg in a £10m transfer in January 2023. That contract was set to expire next summer but has instead been cut short, allowing the Austrian to leave Elland Road on a free transfer.

He made 28 first-team appearances across all competitions during three-and-a-half years contracted to Leeds. Two of those years were spent on loan, with the centre-back exercising a relegation release clause to join Borussia Monchengladbach in 2023.

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Wöber returned to Leeds for what was a Championship title-winning 2024/25 campaign but was on the fringes of first-team football, playing eight league games. The defender joined Werder Bremen on loan last summer but suffered a serious knee injury on debut and managed just three appearances.

A club statement read: “Leeds United can confirm defender Max Wöber has left the club after the two parties agreed to mutually terminate his contract. The Austrian joined the Whites in 2023 from RB Salzburg and featured 19 times in his debut season across all competitions.

“Wöber made eight league appearances for the club in the Sky Bet Championship title winning campaign of 2024/25, scoring one goal, before joining Bundesliga side Werder Bremen on loan last term. Max now departs Elland Road on a permanent basis and we wish him well for the future.”

As widely reported, Wöber is on the verge of joining Bundesliga club Schalke having undergone medical tests. The YEP understands Salzburg had a sell-on clause inserted into their sale of the defender back in 2023, meaning any sale would have seen the Whites book a minimal fee.