Five games into Leeds United’s return to the Premier League, Daniel Farke’s side have plenty to be encouraged about. The Whites are unbeaten, have conceded only three goals and have already produced a statement 4-1 victory over Newcastle United. Some of the summer signings have settled remarkably quickly, while a few established players have also made strong starts.
FotMob’s ratings offer a useful starting point for judging individual performances, but the numbers need context given the small sample size. You can’t judge players who have barely featured alongside those who have played every minute. With that in mind, here is how the Leeds squad currently stacks up after five league games.
1. James Trafford — 7.49
Trafford has made an excellent start to his Leeds career and currently sits joint-top of the squad on FotMob. He has been composed behind a defence that has conceded only three goals, while his shot-stopping has already proved valuable. Five games in, he looks increasingly comfortable as Farke’s first-choice goalkeeper.
2. Anton Stach — 7.49
Stach has quickly become one of the most important players in Leeds’ midfield. His physical presence, energy and ability to cover ground have added a new dimension to Farke’s midfield. He has also contributed a goal and has been one of the most consistent performers across the opening five games.
3. Tarik Muharemovic — 7.43
The young centre-back has been one of the season’s early revelations. Muharemović has started every Premier League game and has looked remarkably composed for a player still adapting to English football. His defending has played a significant part in Leeds’ excellent defensive record.
4. James Justin — 7.42
Justin has gone about his business quietly but effectively. His versatility has made him extremely useful to Farke, while he has also contributed going forward. Four players sit above a 7.4 rating on FotMob, and Justin’s consistency has earned him his place among them.
5. Dominic Calvert-Lewin — 7.29
Three goals in five league games is an excellent return for Leeds’ new striker. His two-goal display against Newcastle was the obvious highlight and demonstrated the physical presence and finishing ability he can bring to the side. The goalless draw against Palace brought his rating down slightly, but his overall start has been excellent.
6. Ethan Ampadu — 7.22
The captain has provided the stability Farke needs in the middle of the pitch. Ampadu has played every minute and remains a key player in protecting the defence and keeping Leeds structurally sound. His influence is not always spectacular, but his consistency is reflected in the rating.
7. Ao Tanaka — 7.12
Tanaka has continued to impress with his intelligence and technical quality. He has been comfortable both in possession and when Leeds need to defend, while his assist against Brighton was an important contribution. He has not quite reached the level of Stach yet, but it has been another encouraging start.
8. Gabriel Gudmundsson — 7.09
Gudmundsson has fitted into Farke’s system nicely since coming into the starting XI. His pace and willingness to attack from the left give Leeds useful width, while he has also shown enough defensive discipline. His numbers suggest a player who has consistently contributed without necessarily dominating games.
9. Noah Okafor — 7.06
Okafor has already shown flashes of the attacking threat Leeds hoped he would provide. His goal against Newcastle was a standout moment, and his pace and direct running give Farke an option to stretch defences. There is still more to come, but his first five games have been positive.
10. Jaka Bijol — 6.97
Bijol has provided solid competition in central defence and has looked dependable when called upon. His minutes have been more limited than those of Muharemovic, Ampadu and Justin, so his rating needs to be viewed in that context. He remains an important option for what should be a demanding season.
11. Jayden Bogle — 6.94
Bogle has already contributed a goal and remains one of Leeds’ most adventurous players from the back. His attacking instincts can trouble opponents, though his performances have been a little more uneven than those of some of the players above him. His goal at Brighton was particularly important.
12. Nico Elvedi — 6.74
Elvedi has brought experience and composure to the back three. His FotMob rating is lower than Muharemovic’s and Bijol’s, but he has played fewer minutes and generally looked comfortable when involved. His importance has increased with Rodon’s injury.
13. Joe Rodon — 6.70
Rodon’s ranking is difficult to assess because of his limited involvement. Not enough football has been played to draw strong conclusions from his rating, but his Premier League experience means he remains a valuable option when available.
14. Harry Wilson — 6.55
Wilson is another player whose ranking comes with a significant sample-size warning. His creativity and set-piece quality could be major assets for Leeds, but he hasn’t had enough time on the pitch to show that consistently. His rating should therefore be treated cautiously.
15. Lukas Nmecha — 6.37
Nmecha has had only limited opportunities so far, with Calvert-Lewin firmly established as Farke’s first-choice striker. He has nevertheless contributed an assist and offers a different option when Leeds need to change the game from the bench.
16. Brenden Aaronson — 6.28
Aaronson has had a relatively quiet start. His movement and pressing remain useful, but the attacking output has not been enough to push him higher in the rankings. With only 195 Premier League minutes, he still has plenty of time to change the picture.
17. Daniel James — 5.93
James has been restricted to just 52 Premier League minutes so far, so his FotMob rating doesn’t tell the whole story. His pace remains one of his biggest weapons and could become particularly valuable against teams that defend with a high line. He simply hasn’t had enough time on the pitch yet.
18. Sean Longstaff — No rating
Longstaff is the obvious omission from the numerical ranking because he has played only 10 Premier League minutes across two substitute appearances. FotMob therefore doesn’t give him a current league rating. He has been on the bench regularly but has yet to establish himself in Farke’s preferred midfield. His 67-minute Carabao Cup appearance against Chelsea earned him a 5.8, while he registered a 7.6 and an assist against Nottingham Forest in the previous round, but neither counts for a five-game Premier League ranking.
19. Melvin Bard — No meaningful league sample
Bard has played only 18 Premier League minutes so far, so his current numbers are hard to judge. He remains useful defensive depth, but Farke’s preferred back three and wing-back combination have limited his opportunities during the opening five games.
20. Jean-Matteo Bahoya — No meaningful league sample
Bahoya has made just one brief Premier League appearance, coming on in stoppage time against Crystal Palace. It was effectively a debut cameo rather than an opportunity to assess him properly, so he shouldn’t be judged alongside the established first-team players yet.
21. Ilia Gruev — Still recovering from a knee injury
Gruev has yet to feature in the Premier League this season. He was an unused substitute against Crystal Palace and has therefore not accumulated a league rating. With Stach, Ampadu and Tanaka currently ahead of him, he faces a fight for midfield minutes once fully integrated back into the squad.
22. Michael Zetterer — Poor against Chelsea in the cup
Zetterer has not played in the Premier League so far, with Trafford firmly established as Farke’s No.1. He did start the Carabao Cup defeat against Chelsea, where FotMob gave him a 4.0, but that result is deliberately excluded from this ranking because we’re assessing the first five league games only.
23. Alex Cairns — No Premier League sample
Cairns has not featured in the Premier League and remains further down the goalkeeping hierarchy. With Trafford starting every league game and Zetterer as the main alternative, there has been no meaningful sample to judge him this season.
The picture after five games
The FotMob numbers tell an interesting story. Trafford and Stach lead the squad on 7.49, followed by Muharemović at 7.43 and Justin at 7.42. Calvert-Lewin then sits fifth on 7.29 after scoring three goals in his first five league appearances.
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect for Leeds is that the players near the top aren’t simply established stars. Trafford, Stach and Muharemovic have all been major contributors to an unbeaten start, while Justin has provided consistency across the defence.
