With the summer transfer window in the rearview mirror, Leeds United have registered their squad with the Premier League for the rest of the season.
Leeds signed seven new players in the summer transfer window to improve a squad that finished 14th in the league table last season and comfortably survived in the top flight.
Melvin Bard and Jean-Matteo Bahoya were the final two additions on deadline day as Leeds pushed hard to ensure that Daniel Farke had more options at the back and in attack.
Leeds have now submitted their 25-man squad to the Premier League, and the list has a name that no one would have expected at the start of the summer.
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Striker returns to Leeds United squad despite falling out with Daniel Farke
Mateo Joseph spent last season on loan at Espanyol and was struggling to score goals in Spain before picking up a serious knee injury.
The forward has been rehabilitating under Leeds United’s supervision and had no chance of leaving the club due to the severity of his knee injury.
Joseph had a major falling out with Daniel Farke last year after he refused to return to pre-season training, and the manager made it clear that he was not part of his plans.
However, the Spaniard will remain a Leeds player until at least the winter transfer window and has been named in the club’s 25-man squad.
This is a major turnaround from last year, when it seemed the forward had no way back after he snubbed a return to pre-season training.
It is unclear whether he is close to returning to fitness or will get a chance to play before the winter transfer window.
However, for at least the next few months, Joseph is part of Leeds United’s Premier League squad.
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Will Joseph play for Leeds again?
Daniel Farke backed Mateo Joseph to be Leeds United’s starting striker in the 2024/25 Championship campaign. But eventually Joel Piroe replaced him, as the Spaniard just didn’t deliver the goods.
However, his attempt to force his way out of Leeds last season ruptured his relationship with Farke, who didn’t admire that the striker decided against reporting for pre-season training.
He is currently recovering from an injury and is unlikely to play for a while. But there is a slim chance that he could be seen in a Leeds shirt again.
Even if he is fit before the winter window, suitors are unlikely to want to sign him in January if he doesn’t play much football.
With Leeds failing to sign a striker in the summer, there is now a real chance Joseph could get an opportunity at some point this season.
