Southampton Set £25m Asking Price for Aaron Ramsdale as Leeds United Secure Summer Transfer Agreement
Southampton have set a £25 million asking price for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who has reportedly agreed to join Leeds United in the summer transfer window. The 26-year-old England international, who moved to St Mary’s from Arsenal for a similar fee last August, is poised to leave the relegated Saints, with Leeds emerging as his next destination following their anticipated Premier League return.
Ramsdale’s contract includes a relegation release clause, activated after Southampton’s drop to the Championship was confirmed following a 3-1 defeat to Tottenham in April 2025. This clause allows clubs to secure his services for £25 million, a figure Southampton expect to recoup to balance their financial books after a dismal Premier League campaign. The Saints, now under interim boss Simon Rusk, view Ramsdale’s departure as inevitable, especially given his £120,000-per-week wages, which are unsustainable in the second tier.
Leeds, managed by Daniel Farke, have prioritized Ramsdale to replace Illan Meslier, whose high-profile errors in the Championship have raised doubts about his suitability for top-flight football. Sources confirm Ramsdale has agreed to the move, contingent on Leeds securing promotion, with the Whites currently leading the Championship with 75 points. His proven Premier League pedigree, including 40 clean sheets in 172 appearances and a PFA Team of the Year nod in 2022/23 with Arsenal, makes him an ideal candidate to bolster Leeds’ ambitions of avoiding a relegation scrap.
However, Leeds face competition from Newcastle United, Bournemouth, and Manchester United, all of whom have monitored Ramsdale’s situation. The goalkeeper, who has endured three Premier League relegations with Bournemouth, Sheffield United, and now Southampton, is determined to remain in the top flight to boost his chances of challenging Jordan Pickford for England’s number-one spot ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Southampton’s planning for Ramsdale’s exit is already underway, with reports suggesting they are eyeing Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson as a potential replacement. For Leeds, securing Ramsdale would mark a significant coup, signaling their intent to compete in the Premier League. As the summer window approaches, all eyes will be on Elland Road to see if Farke’s side can finalize the deal and usher in a new era with Ramsdale between the posts.
