Fortuna Dusseldorf had no option but to sell Ao Tanaka to Leeds on deadline day last week once the Whites tabled an improved offer for the Japanese central midfielder.
Tanaka made his debut for Leeds over the weekend in their 2-0 win over Hull City at Elland Road, just a day after he completed the move from Fortuna Dusseldorf to the Yorkshire giants.
The midfielder came on for a brief cameo towards the end of the game as Leeds beat Hull at home and there are suggestions that he could be the ‘bargain of the summer’ for the Whites in the summer.
However, according to German daily Bild (via Sport Witness), at the start of the transfer window, the German club were not planning to sell the midfielder and it only changed towards the end due to Leeds aggressively chasing the player.
Leeds’ initial bid for Ao Tanaka was rejected
Fortuna Dusseldorf were completely on board about holding on to the player and rejected Leeds’ initial offer of €2.5m from the Championship club in the summer.
The German club made a counter-offer, demanding €4m for the sale of the player and were never expecting Leeds to match that figure given their financial situation.
However, Tanaka was keen on the move and his decision to miss training last week was more down to him wanting to join Leeds than any injury worries, which was the official line.
Leeds surprised Fortuna Dusseldorf by matching their asking price
The Whites were determined to get their hands on Tanaka and their €4m bid shocked the German club who begrudgingly accepted the offer.
The midfielder only had a year left on his contract and Fortuna Dusseldorf were not in a position to reject an offer of that magnitude for Tanaka towards the end of the window.
Leeds are said to be paying an initial fee of €3.5m and another €500,000 in add-ons for the 25-year-old midfielder.
