Leeds United were scrambling to sign an attacker on deadline day as they had to seal key transfers. The club had been in the market trying to solve a key problem in the squad.
The Whites pushed to sign Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk but the winger eventually chose a move to Spurs.
And with the pending departure of Wilfried Gnonto, things got really complicated. Leeds gave Gnonto the green light to travel to Italy to complete his transfer, but only in the event they signed a replacement.
The 49ers pulled through and signed Jean-Matteo Bahoya on a season-long loan.
Melvin Bard also arrived on deadline day as the Whites got a massive boost in the window. The left back will provide much needed cover for Gabriel Gudmundsson who started the season with an injury.
Fabrizio Romano confirms offers for Leeds United star on deadline day
Noah Okafor
Credit: Imago
On Tuesday, Wilfried Gnonto was not the only Leeds United player who left the club.
The club loaned out young midfielder Sam Chambers to Northampton Town. And in one of the more high profile deals for the club this summer, Largie Ramazani joined Burnley.
This ends the winger’s two-year stay at Elland Road, as he joined the Clarets on loan with an obligation to buy.
🚨⛔️ Leeds United rejected approaches from several clubs for Noah Okafor – also with a £35m bid on table on Deadline Day.#LUFC see Noah as key player and he wanted to stay. pic.twitter.com/7GGrVugPgo
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 2, 2026
In a shocking turn of events, Leeds United winger Noah Okafor was the subject of interest to some clubs on deadline day. This was confirmed by Fabrizio Romano on Wednesday.
The Italian reported that ‘several’ clubs made an approach, with one club even making a £35 million bid.
Okafor remained at Elland Road as the 49ers had no plans of selling one of their key players this summer.
READ MORE: Deadline day signing makes honest admission after joining Leeds United
Letting Noah Okafor go would have been a bad decision
Okafor has been a fantastic signing since he arrived at Elland Road. It took a while for him to adapt to England, but he has flourished since.
He provided a goal threat that the club sorely needed; his goalscoring run in the final months of the season helped avoid relegation.
Letting him go just one season on would have been a poor decision, even if £35 million was offered. His value is way above that now, as a key member of this Leeds squad.
And even in the event he was let go, his kind of quality in this market would have easily set the club back by around £40 million.
