In a day of chaos, celebration, and confusion, Leeds United have set social media alight after announcing the signing of a £25 million English player – only for their official club website to crash moments later under the weight of surging fan traffic. As if that wasn’t enough to whip the Elland Road faithful into a frenzy, multiple reports suggest that Slovenian international is also set to be unveiled imminently as the club’s next signing.
The dramatic sequence of events has created one of the most unforgettable days in Leeds’ recent transfer history. It marks a bold signal of intent from the club as they aim to bounce back into the Premier League after their painful near-miss last season. And while fans were expecting news this week, the scale and speed of these announcements – not to mention the technical meltdown – caught nearly everyone off guard.
💥 THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT – AND A BIGGER MYSTERY
It all began shortly before midday, when Leeds United posted a teaser video on social media showing a silhouetted figure walking through the club’s training facility at Thorp Arch. With the caption: “A new chapter begins – stay tuned,” speculation exploded online.
Within 30 minutes, Leeds posted a formal announcement on X (formerly Twitter), confirming the acquisition of a “young, versatile English player” for a reported fee of £25 million – one of the club’s most expensive domestic signings in over a decade. However, curiously, the club refrained from naming the player in the tweet, instead directing fans to a link on their official website to “meet the signing”.
The result? A full-blown digital disaster.
Fans who flocked to the Leeds United website were met with an error message or prolonged loading screens, as the site buckled under the unprecedented traffic. By the time the club posted an apology for the technical difficulties, screenshots of the broken website had gone viral, and “Leeds website” was trending across the UK.
🌐 WEBSITE CRASHES SPARK TRANSFER CHAOS
The crash left fans scrambling for clues. Thousands took to Reddit, Twitter, and Leeds fan forums, speculating who the mystery English signing might be. Names from the Championship, Premier League, and even abroad were floated.
Some believed it to be Taylor Harwood-Bellis, the Manchester City defender who impressed on loan at Southampton. Others speculated it could be Dwight McNeil from Everton or James Garner from Manchester United – both of whom would fit Leeds’ recruitment profile and budget.
But despite the frenzy, the identity of the new signing remains under wraps, with the club still yet to re-upload the full announcement on a working webpage hours later.
🧱 ENTER JAKA BIJOL: A POWERHOUSE FROM UDINESE
And just when fans thought the day couldn’t get any crazier, reputable Italian outlet Gianluca Di Marzio broke the news that Leeds are also on the verge of signing Jaka Bijol, the highly-rated Slovenian centre-back from Udinese.
Sources close to the deal indicate that negotiations with the Serie A side accelerated in the past 48 hours, with Leeds submitting a formal bid believed to be in the region of €12 million (£10.2 million). Bijol, 25, has reportedly agreed personal terms and is expected to undergo a medical within the next 48 hours.
Bijol’s arrival would represent a major coup for Leeds. Standing at 6ft 4in, he is a commanding presence in central defence, known for his aerial ability, intelligent positioning, and aggressive tackling style. He has been a consistent performer in Italy’s top flight and has also featured prominently for the Slovenia national team, where he recently starred in their Euro 2024 campaign.
Leeds fans have long called for a more robust and commanding centre-half, particularly following defensive inconsistencies in the Championship last season. If confirmed, Bijol could become a central figure in Daniel Farke’s new-look back line as the club plots a return to England’s top division.
🔥 FAN REACTION: FROM HYPE TO HAVOC
Leeds United supporters, already among the most passionate and vocal in England, have responded to today’s developments with a mix of joy, frustration, and humour. While many praised the ambition shown by the club, others expressed frustration at the communication strategy and lack of clarity.
Twitter was flooded with memes mocking the website crash, with some users comparing it to past internet meltdowns during massive product releases, such as Taylor Swift tour tickets or iPhone launches. One fan tweeted:
“Leeds United signing someone big enough to crash a website? We’re back, baby.”
On the club’s subreddit, r/LeedsUnited, fans shared theories and tried to piece together screenshots of the announcement before the site went down. A few claimed they managed to glimpse the name “Morgan Rogers” – the Aston Villa winger – before the page crashed, although this remains unverified.
Others have urged the club to “just tweet the name already” and end the suspense, while a number of fans are celebrating the rumored Bijol signing as the true highlight of the day.
🛒 TRANSFER STRATEGY SHIFTING GEARS
Today’s events suggest a major shift in transfer strategy at Elland Road. After a period of financial caution following relegation, Leeds appear to be spending more decisively in the market.
The £25 million outlay for an unnamed English player is a massive statement, particularly for a club still navigating the financial constraints of the Championship. Add to that the expected €12 million deal for Bijol, and it’s clear that the board, led by 49ers Enterprises, are not content to remain in the second tier for long.
Daniel Farke has reportedly been given increased influence over recruitment this summer, and sources say he was “personally insistent” on signing a physical, experienced defender like Bijol after reviewing last season’s vulnerabilities.
⏳ WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
All eyes are now on the Leeds United communications team. With the website still down at the time of writing and no official statement beyond the social media teaser, the club faces growing pressure to clarify who their record domestic signing is.
Meanwhile, the Bijol deal is expected to be finalized within days, with multiple sources confirming he has already said goodbye to Udinese teammates.
There is also speculation that more announcements could follow, including exits – with Archie Gray and Wilfried Gnonto both attracting Premier League interest. However, today’s focus is firmly on arrivals, and the sense of momentum building at Elland Road is palpable.
📣 CONCLUSION: A NEW ERA AT ELLAND ROAD?
In many ways, today felt like the unofficial start of the new season for Leeds United. A club that has endured a turbulent few years – from Premier League highs to Championship heartbreak – suddenly feels like it’s turning a corner.
The crashed website, while a technical embarrassment, is a testament to the passion and scale of the fanbase. And if the signings of Jaka Bijol and the unnamed English player live up to the hype, this chaotic day might one day be remembered as the moment Leeds started their true Premier League redemption arc.
Now, the only question that remains is: Who is the mystery man behind the £25 million signing?
