The 2021–22 season was Leeds United's 102nd season in existence. It was their second consecutive season in the Premier League, and in general, it is their 52nd ever season in the top flight of English football. In addition to the league, they also competed in the FA Cup and EFL Cup.
Background and pre-season Former Argentina head coach Marcelo Bielsa was appointed as manager of Leeds United in summer 2018, and after finishing 3rd in the 2018–19 season and failing to secure promotion through the play-offs, the club were promoted to the top-tier Premier League in 2020 after 16 years outside of it, after finishing the 2019–20 season as champions of the second-tier EFL Championship. Leeds finished 9th in the 2020–21 season after a strong end to the campaign, picking up 23 points from the final 10 matches. On 12 August 2021, it was announced that head coach Marcelo Bielsa had signed a new one-year contract with the club after his previous contract ran out after the end of the previous season on 30 June 2021.
On 18 June 2021, Leeds announced six pre-season friendly matches, against Guiseley, Blackburn Rovers, Fleetwood Town, Real Betis, Ajax and Villarreal. WinDrawLoss DateOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceGuiseleyAway3–2Summerville 19' (pen.), Greenwood 43', Allen 84' Blackburn RoversAway1–1Struijk 81'8,883Fleetwood TownAway1–2Cresswell 24' Real BetisNeutral2–3Bamford 6', Klich 57' Jong AjaxAway1–3Dean 90' (pen.)0AjaxAway0–4—25,000VillarrealNeutral2–2Klich 9', Bamford 40'0
Review
August
Leeds began their Premier League campaign against rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on 14 August 2021, live on BT Sport, losing by a score of 5–1. Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring for Manchester United in the 30th minute. After the half-time interval, Luke Ayling levelled the scores, with his first Premier League goal for Leeds. Mason Greenwood then put Manchester United ahead again in the 52nd minute, after Paul Pogba released him down the left wing. Fernandes added Manchester United's third in the 54th minute, after another assist from Pogba, and he completed his hat-trick with Manchester United's fourth goal in the 60th minute after Victor Lindelöf found him with a long ball. Fred then scored Manchester United's fifth goal in the 68th minute after a fourth assist from Pogba, a joint-Premier League record for a single match.
Leeds hosted Everton at Elland Road on 21 August, drawing 2–2. Dominic Calvert-Lewin opening the scoring from a penalty after referee Darren England ruled that Liam Cooper had fouled Calvert-Lewin by pulling on his shirt. Mateusz Klich equalised for Leeds following a pass from Patrick Bamford. In the second half, Everton went in front after a Demarai Gray goal, however, Leeds later equalised through Raphinha. Raphinha became the first Leeds player to score in three consecutive matches against Everton since Peter Lorimer.
Leeds' following match was against League One club Crewe Alexandra at Elland Road in the EFL Cup second round on 24 August, winning 3–0. Kalvin Phillips and two from Jack Harrison the goal-scorers.
Leeds travelled to Turf Moor to play Sean Dyche's Burnley on 29 August, drawing 1–1. Burnley opened the scoring after a Matthew Lowton shot fell into former Leeds player Chris Wood's path, allowing him to prod the ball home; however, Leeds equalised through Bamford after a Jamie Shackleton shot fell into his path so he could foot it into the Burnley goal past Nick Pope.
September
Leeds' first match after the first international break of the season saw them host Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool at Elland Road on 12 September, losing 3–0 with Pascal Struijk receiving a red card due to a challenge on Harvey Elliott that resulted in a serious injury.
Leeds travelled to St James' Park on 17 September to face Newcastle United, drawing 1–1. An early Leeds goal from Raphinha was cancelled out by Allan Saint-Maximin before half time; a 2–1 loss at home to West Ham United followed with a 90th-minute goal by Michail Antonio winning it for the visitors on 25 September.
October
Leeds started October with a 1–0 win over Watford at Elland Road on 2 October. Leeds travelled to Southampton on 16 October, losing 1–0. Armando Broja netting the only goal of the match. Wolves visited Elland Road on 23 October, drawing 1–1. A Rodrigo penalty in stoppage time earned a point for Leeds. Leeds travelled to Carrow Road to play Norwich City on 31 October, winning 2–1.
November
Leeds started November with Leicester City visiting Elland Road, drawing 1–1. Leeds' following match was a 2–1 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a 0–0 draw at Brighton followed. Leeds' following match against Crystal Palace at Elland Road was 0–0 as Raphinha floated in a corner kick and Liam Cooper’s connecting header was blocked by the hand of Palace defender Marc Guéhi. Raphinha slotted the penalty past Vicente Guaita to win the match for Leeds on 30 November.
December
Leeds started December against Brentford at Elland Road, drawing 2–2. Patrick Bamford scored his second goal of the season in second half stoppage time to earn a point for Leeds. Leeds travelled to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on 11 December, losing 3–2. Jorginho scored the winner for Chelsea in the 94th minute from the penalty spot. Leeds' biggest defeat of the season followed at the Etihad Stadium, losing 7–0. Leeds ended December with a 4–1 defeat at home to Arsenal.
January
Leeds won 3–1 at home to Burnley in their opening match of 2022; Jack Harrison put Leeds 1–0 up in the 39th minute, though Maxwel Cornet equalised for Burnley with a 54th minute free-kick. Stuart Dallas put Leeds back ahead in the 77th minute, before Daniel James scored Leeds' third with a header in the second minute of second-half stoppage time. This was followed by a 3–2 away win against West Ham United on 16 January, with Harrison scoring all three goals to complete the first hat-trick of his career. Leeds then lost 1–0 at home to Newcastle United, with the only goal of the game being a Jonjo Shelvey free-kick.
February
Leeds started February at Villa Park on 9 February, drawing 3–3. Daniel James scoring a brace for Leeds. Leeds' following match at Goodison Park saw a 3–0 defeat to Everton, defeats to Manchester United 4–2, Liverpool 6–0 and Tottenham Hotspur 4–0.
Following the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, manager Marcelo Bielsa was sacked on 27 February, and on the following day Jesse Marsch was appointed as his replacement.
March
Leeds started March by travelling to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City, losing 1–0. Leeds' following match at Elland Road saw a 3–0 defeat to Aston Villa. Leeds' following match against Norwich City at Elland Road saw Leeds 2–1 winners, following a late goal by Joe Gelhardt. Leeds travelled to Molineux on 18 March to face Wolverhampton Wanderers a second half stoppage time winner from Luke Ayling secured two consecutive victories for Leeds in a 3–2 comeback win.
April
Leeds started April with Southampton at Elland Road drawing 1–1, this was followed by a 3–0 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road. Leeds travelled to Crystal Palace on 25 April, drawing 0–0. Manchester City visited Elland Road on 30 April, winning 4–0.
May
Leeds started May by visiting Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, losing 2–1 and hosting Chelsea at Elland Road, losing 3–0.
Leeds' following match against Brighton at Elland Road finished 1–1.
Leeds travelled to the Brentford Community Stadium on the final day of the season to face Brentford, knowing they had to better Burnley's result to avoid relegation. Burnley hosted Newcastle at Turf Moor and fell behind through Callum Wilson. Leeds took the lead against Brentford through a penalty in the 56th minute that Raphinha won and converted, shortly after Newcastle doubled their lead against Burnley.
In the 69th minute, Maxwel Cornet scored for Burnley, while in London a 78th minute Brentford equaliser through a Canós header saw Burnley's hopes come to life again. Canós was the dismissed just two minutes later for a second bookable offence. Leeds' press for the final 10 minutes come to fruition, with Jack Harrison scoring a deflected long-shot in second half stoppage time which secured survival.
Transfers Transfers in DatePositionNameFromFee 28 June 2021 MF Amari Miller Birmingham City Undisclosed 2 July 2021 MF Jack Harrison Manchester City £11,000,000 6 July 2021 DF Junior Firpo Barcelona£12,800,000 8 July 2021 MF Sean McGurk Wigan Athletic Undisclosed 22 July 2021 MF Lewis Bate Chelsea Undisclosed 31 July 2021 GK Kristoffer Klaesson Vålerenga £1,600,000 27 August 2021 DF Leo Fuhr Hjelde Celtic Undisclosed 31 August 2021 MF Daniel James Manchester United £25,000,000 4 January 2022 FW Mateo Joseph Espanyol Undisclosed
Transfers out DatePositionNameToFee 30 June 2021 DF Ezgjan Alioski Al-Ahli Released 30 June 2021 DF Gaetano Berardi FC Sion Released 30 June 2021 MF Ouasim Bouy Al Kharaitiyat Released 30 June 2021 DF Barry Douglas Lech Poznań Released 30 June 2021 MF Cole Gibbon Released 30 June 2021 FW Niklas Haugland Molde Released 30 June 2021 MF Pablo Hernández CD Castellón Released 30 June 2021 MFEunan O'KaneReleased 30 June 2021 GKMatthew TurnerCardiff CityReleased 1 July 2021 DF Oliver Casey Blackpool Undisclosed 2 July 2021 FW Rafa Mújica Las Palmas Undisclosed 20 August 2021 DF Niall Huggins Sunderland Undisclosed 31 August 2021 MF Robbie Gotts Barrow Free transfer 31 August 2021 DF Bryce Hosannah Wrexham Free transfer 31 August 2021 MF Jordan Stevens Barrow Free transfer 23 September 2021 FW Jimiel Chikukwa Watford Free transfer
Loans out Date fromDate toPositionNameTo 1 July 2021 End of season FW Ryan Edmondson Fleetwood Town 1 July 2021 End of season FW Kun Temenuzhkov Real Unión 2 July 2021 End of season MF Alfie McCalmont Morecambe 6 July 2021 End of season DF Laurens De Bock Zulte Waregem 7 July 2021 End of season MF Mateusz Bogusz Ibiza 12 July 2021 End of season GK Kiko Casilla Elche 27 July 2021 End of season DF Leif Davis Bournemouth 7 August 2021 End of season GK Elia Caprile Pro Patria 24 August 2021End of seasonMFIan PovedaBlackburn Rovers31 August 2021 End of season MF Hélder Costa Valencia CF 4 January 2022 End of season FW Ryan Edmondson Port Vale 12 January 2022 End of season DF Cody Drameh Cardiff City 26 January 2022 End of season RW Josh Galloway FC United of Manchester 27 January 2022 End of season CF Bobby Kamwa Dunfermline Athletic
First-team squad
As of 26 March 2022.
#NameNationPositionDate of birth (age)Joined fromYear joinedContract end dateGoalkeepers1Illan MeslierGK Lorient202030 June 202613Kristoffer KlaessonGK Vålerenga202130 June 2025Defenders2Luke Ayling (vice-captain)DF Bristol City201630 June 20233Junior FirpoDF Barcelona202130 June 20255Robin KochDF Freiburg202030 June 20246Liam Cooper (captain)DF Chesterfield201430 June 202414Diego LlorenteDF Real Sociedad202030 June 202421Pascal StruijkDF Ajax201830 June 202433Leo Fuhr HjeldeDF Celtic202130 June 202535Charlie CresswellDF Leeds United Academy201830 June 202537Cody DramehDF Fulham202030 June 2024Midfielders4Adam ForshawMF Middlesbrough201830 June 202310RaphinhaMF Rennes202030 June 202415Stuart DallasMF Brentford201530 June 202420Daniel JamesMF Manchester United202130 June 202622Jack HarrisonMF Manchester City202130 June 202423Kalvin PhillipsMF Leeds United Academy201030 June 202426Lewis BateMF Chelsea202130 June 202438Crysencio SummervilleMF Feyenoord202030 June 202339Stuart McKinstryMF Motherwell201930 June 202343Mateusz KlichMF F.C. Twente201730 June 202445Liam McCarronMF Carlisle United201930 June 202346Jamie ShackletonMF Leeds United Academy200630 June 202447Jack JenkinsMF Leeds United Academy201830 June 2023Attackers9Patrick BamfordFW Middlesbrough201830 June 202611Tyler RobertsFW West Bromwich Albion201830 June 202419RodrigoFW Valencia202030 June 202430Joe GelhardtFW Wigan Athletic202030 June 202442Sam GreenwoodFW Arsenal202030 June 2023
Competitions