Leeds United striker outlines summer transfer stance with January window admission

Leeds United striker Joel Piroe has reiterated his desire to remain at Elland Road despite a frustrating first season in the Premier League.

Piroe started Leeds’ first two games against Everton and Arsenal but was not in a Premier League starting-XI after that, his 14 other appearances all coming from the bench with less than 20 minutes remaining. The 2024/25 Championship Golden Boot winner failed to score a single top-flight goal, his only strike coming in a 3-0 FA Cup win over Norwich City.

There was January transfer interest in Piroe but the Suriname international was minded to stay and Leeds were not minded to push him out the door. He remains behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha in the No.9 pecking order and could fall to fourth choice if a new striker is signed as expected.

"I just want to prove myself with Leeds in the Premier League,” Piroe told Flashscore. “I had a little bit of the feeling that I didn't want to run away from the challenge (in the winter transfer window). If the start is not going as I want it to, then after just half a season to run away from the challenge, that didn't feel right as well.

“And I thought to myself, 'Why run away after half a season when you have not experienced like a full season in the Premier League?' I still see my future there (at Leeds). Of course, when pre-season starts, I will see and feel a bit more about what the club thinks as well.

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“But for now, I just want to present myself in a way where I can show these are the steps I've made in comparison to last season. And if it's good enough and I get the chances, then I would be really happy. And if it's not the case, then we will see what will happen."

Joel Piroe outlines minutes reason behind no-goal Premier League season

Piroe’s finish in that win over Norwich was reminiscent of his Championship form but sharpness in front of goal has been lacking. The 26-year-old squandered a good chance to score the winner against Manchester United in January and missed penalties - in open play or shootouts - against Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County and West Ham United.

"I don't think it did anything to my confidence because when you play a very low number of minutes, it maybe says 21 appearances, but if you look at the minutes (585), then it's not something that I would punish myself for,” he added. “At the same time, when I think back about some games, like the home game against Manchester United when I could have scored the winner in the last minute, of course, those moments can make you angry, or you think like, 'Ah, I should have done better’.

"But at the same time, that happens and then you think like, if I played maybe the full game or more minutes, then for sure I would have scored more. But yes, that is something you don't have in your hands. Personally, it's always tough because everyone wants to play every minute. But I think in some situations it's just good to make out of a bad situation a good situation.

"So, instead of moping around and being annoyed, you can still make it a good season on a personal level, and I just think that's what I've done and I hope to be able to show that next season."