Leeds United have spent £34m to make Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic their second signing of the summer - giving the club’s strongest XI and bench a different look to it.
Nine days on from announcing the signing of Harry Wilson as a free transfer, Leeds unveiled Bosnia and Herzegovina international centre-back as the club’s second arrival of the summer and United’s second most expensive player in the club’s history on Friday afternoon.
Fresh from starring for his country at the World Cup, Muharemovic has joined Leeds from Serie A side Sassuolo for £34m on a five-year deal. In United’s history, only Georginio Rutter cost more money and only just at £35.5m.
Muharemovic fills a defensive void left by Pascal Struijk following the centre-back’s move to Brighton this summer in a deal worth £20m. Another big exit was also confirmed this week as former first choice keeper Karl Darlow joined Manchester United as a free transfer signing upon his Leeds deal ending this summer.
Darlow is the second keeper to leave Leeds this summer following the departure of Illan Meslier who also left as his contract expired, Meslier since joining Arsenal as a back up stopper.
A player who could have returned to Leeds this summer also left this week as Isaac Schmidt sealed a permanent move to Swiss club Young Boys following last season’s loan spell with Werder Bremen.
But Wilson and Muharemovic are two big signings for Leeds and their arrival significantly changes the club’s likely strongest best XI and bench. Here, following the deals so far this summer, is our idea of what the new Leeds best XI and bench now looks like.
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1. GK: Lucas Perri
Perri was brought in last summer to be the club's new first choice keeper but eventually lost the position to Karl Darlow who has himself now left for Manchester United. With Illan Meslier also leaving, Perri is clear first choice again but it goes without saying that the Whites need a new stopper this summer. Get James Trafford in and the back line is absolutely cooking. | Getty Images
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2. RB: Jayden Bogle
Clear first choice right back although James Justin a strong alternative who can play anywhere across the back line. | Getty Images
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3. CB: Joe Rodon
Leeds are once again strong in the centre back department following the arrival of Muharemovic after Struijk's departure and the burning question now is whether Farke sticks with five at the back that worked so well in the second half of last season or switches to a back four. Either way, though, Wales international warrior Rodon looks certain to start. | Getty Images
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4. CB: Jaka Bijol
The summer 2025 signing really began to shine in the second half of the season and the giant Slovenian international centre-back appears best in the middle of a three-man centre-back axis. That system suited Leeds very well in the second half of the campaign and there appears no obvious reason to change it considering the quality of defenders available. | Getty Images
5. CB: Tarik Muharemovic
Commanding centre-half Muharemovic has become the second most expensive player in the club's history in joining for £34m from Sassuolo and it's just a case of whether he starts in a back five or back four. As a left sided centre-half, a straight swap as the left sided CB in a back three seems to make sense although no surprise if it ends up being Rodon and Muharemovic in a back four. | LUFC
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6. LB: Gabi Gudmundsson
The Swede is clear first choice left back and one of four Leeds players who has been representing the club at the World Cup. | Getty Images