Leeds Transfer News: Daniel Farke badly needs another left-back this summer, and the name circulating with genuine momentum is Souffian El Karouani of FC Utrecht. According to Gazzetta dello Sport via Sport Witness, Farke’s men are preparing to move strongly for the signature of the 25-year-old, whose contract at Utrecht expires in June, making this a zero-fee opportunity that clubs rarely see arrive at this level of quality.
What has El Karouani done in 2025/26?
The numbers are genuinely startling. In the 2025/26 Eredivisie season alone, El Karouani has recorded two goals and 10 assists across 1,979 minutes, carrying an average FotMob rating of 7.63. Factor in his European contributions, and his total assist tally across all competitions reaches a staggering 16, including six in the Europa League. Furthermore, El Karouani leads the Eredivisie in completed crosses with 91, while creating 80 chances in the league, 14 of which qualified as big chances. Those figures belong to an attacking midfielder, not a full-back.
Leeds Transfer News: A player built for the modern game
El Karouani operates as a genuine wing-back in all but name, providing both defensive cover and consistent attacking output with a frequency that puts most specialist wide midfielders to shame. His crossing accuracy and positional intelligence in the final third separate him from the typical left-back profile. The weakness to acknowledge, however, is that the Eredivisie does not always test defenders at the intensity of the Premier League, and his transition to England’s pace would require an adjustment period that Farke must plan around.
Leeds Transfer News: The Friedkin complication
Leeds Transfer News: Roma, owned by The Friedkin Group, which also own Everton, have identified El Karouani as a left-back target for the Serie A club. Several Premier League clubs remain keen, and Marseille are competing from France’s side too. Leeds United, though, sit in an interesting position because Gabriel Gudmundsson has managed just one assist this season despite featuring regularly, contrasting with El Karouani’s output impossible to ignore. Farke would add genuine creativity from deep on the left side, something Leeds currently lack badly. This is one free transfer worth fighting hard for.
Rohit Sarkar
Rohit Sarkar is a passionate writer with a deep love for multiple sports, but his favourites are football and cricket. Since 2017, he has been covering football and cricket news with a keen eye for detail and compelling storytelling. He is a fan of the beautiful game and a specialist…