Ethan Ampadu has arguably been Leeds United’s most influential player since arriving at the club in 2023. Despite that, he is still on the original contract he signed when he joined and will enter the final 12 months of that deal this summer.
The midfielder is one of the first names on Daniel Farke’s team sheet, and it was no surprise to see him start against Norwich City on Sunday, despite a rotated team taking the pitch at Elland Road.
Ampadu currently earns around £40,000 per week, a figure that places him well below several of the top earners in the Leeds squad. In fact, some players who are largely used as squad options are believed to be earning more than him.
Leeds are planning to open discussions with the player and his representatives over a new contract, although reports suggest the club are not rushing into negotiations just yet.
Leeds tipped to spend big after new deal for Ethan Ampadu is finalised
Former Premier League scout Mick Brown has highlighted Ampadu’s importance to the Leeds squad and feels he is the kind of player the club would want to build around.
He believes Leeds will make some major moves in the upcoming transfer window once they finalise a new contract for the club captain.
Brown is certain that Leeds are already planning for the summer, as he believes other clubs will be relegated ahead of the Whites this season.
“Ampadu has been such an important player for Leeds”, Brown told Football Insider.
“He’s the type of player who is going to give you a seven or eight out of ten performance every single week, and that’s exactly what you need as a team like Leeds.
“You need consistency and reliability, and he gives them both of those things, as well as his leadership, which has also been massively important.
“That’s the type of player Leeds want to build their squad around, because they’ll be aware they will have to improve if they want to stay in the Premier League long-term.
“If they can get a deal agreed with Ampadu, then they can focus on bringing players in.
“They’re still not safe at the moment, but you feel there are other clubs ahead of them who could go down, so they’ll be planning for the summer.
“The key to staying in the Premier League long-term is you have to improve every year, so they’ll be looking at positions they can improve and who might be available.
“If they can add quality players to their squad around people like Ampadu and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, that’s how they can continue to impress and improve.”
Leeds can’t delay the new contract for the midfielder
Ethan Ampadu is far more than just Leeds United’s captain; he is effectively Daniel Farke’s on-field lieutenant. His presence in midfield brings composure and structure, particularly when the team comes under pressure, and his leadership often helps settle those around him.
His performances in the Premier League this season have not gone unnoticed either. Pundits have regularly pointed to his consistency and the authority he brings to the side.
Ethan Ampadu – Leeds United Appearances This Season| Competition | Matches | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 26 | 2,313′ |
| FA Cup | 3 | 255′ |
| Total | 26 | 2,568′ |
What makes the situation surprising is that, despite his importance to the team, Ampadu is still earning well below what you would typically expect for a player of his standing. A new contract feels long overdue. Since arriving at Elland Road, he has been one of Leeds’ most dependable performers, which makes the delay in offering improved terms all the more puzzling.
Earlier in the campaign, Leeds moved quickly to hand Daniel James a new contract, a decision that, so far, has not quite produced the return many expected. By contrast, securing Ampadu’s long-term future would have been far easier to justify given how central he is to the team.
If the club allows the situation to drift into the summer without reaching an agreement, they could soon find themselves under pressure, with plenty of clubs likely to take an interest in a player of Ampadu’s quality.
