The loan clauses held Leeds United back from making serious progress, while many of their best players didn’t want to stick around for one Championship campaign — let alone two back-to-back in some cases.
The likes of Luis Sinisterra and Tyler Adams departed in summer 2023, but last year was also tough to navigate due to the loan clauses still being in place, as well as release clauses for Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville.
Daniel Farke had to manage more than just the playing squad but the circumstances as well. Willy Gnonto is one player who remained both seasons, with Gnonto penning a new contract in 2024 as well. However, it wasn’t always such a happy time between him and the club.
Willy Gnonto mocks his Leeds transfer request decision
Gnonto handed in a transfer request the same week Sinisterra pushed for a departure. It was a troubling time for the club after an already rushed and muddled together end to the window.
The Colombian got his way and left to join AFC Bournemouth but Gnonto was retained past the deadline. He then had to rebuild his relationship with the fans and with the management at the club.
It’s fair to say that the Italian has done so in that time, having been an important part of the side in the last two seasons, developing well in the process.
SeasonAppearancesGoalsAssists2022/23 – Premier League28442023/24 – Championship44932024/25 – Championship4696Willy Gnonto’s Leeds seasons so far
Prior to that, per The Mirror’s report in 2023, there was a banner created by Leeds fans mocking Gnonto for his transfer request. It read “Waaaah Waaaah I not wanna play in the Championship.”
It was written over a picture of Gnonto as a baby, but that all appears to be water under the bridge for Gnonto and the supporters now, with the 21-year-old poking fun at it in his end-of-season Instagram post celebrating promotion.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DJcYahxSu-w/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
It’s a situation everyone can laugh about now, with Gnonto scoring four in the last eight games to help Leeds to 100 points and the title as well after beating Plymouth Argyle on the final day of the season.
Crysencio Summerville is delighted with Gnonto’s progress and praised him winning the Young Player of the Season award in the process in a huge turnaround for the forward in West Yorkshire.
Leeds have to build their Premier League team around Gnonto
Leeds have a gem in Gnonto who they should be aiming to nurture and develop at Elland Road. He has so much potential and Leeds can unlock that in the Premier League.
ClubAppearancesGoalsAssistsFC Zurich741210Leeds United1182213Italy1312Willy Gnonto’s career stats so far
For his age, Gnonto is incredibly experienced. They should be fighting tooth and nail to keep that around, even if there are some suggestions that Leeds could cash in on Gnonto for a PSR boost.
That is out of the question, given how he is proven to have moments of brilliance in the top flight already. He is likely to have even more now he is older and wiser than 2022/23 as well. Gnonto is a player to build around over the next few seasons.
