Report: Leeds United Tracked ‘Important’ Player for ‘Several Months’ Before Making a Move

Andrea Radrizzani had previously relied heavily on Victor Orta, tasking him with managing transfers almost single-handedly.

However, 49ers Enterprises, upon taking full control of Leeds United, quickly recognized that this was a flawed approach.

As a result, within just a few months of their takeover, the club’s recruitment department underwent significant changes.

The new setup now includes Gretar Steinsson, Jordan Miles, and Nick Hammond, who all work closely with head coach Daniel Farke.

This summer marked the trio’s first transfer window working together, and while it remains to be seen how successful their efforts will be, Leeds CEO Angus Kinnear hinted at some behind-the-scenes tension—a normal occurrence in such high-stakes situations.

Unlike the previous summer, when Leeds focused primarily on the domestic market, this time they cast a wider net across Europe for new signings.

With this broader approach comes additional risk, as foreign players need time to adjust to a new country and league.

One of the standout transfers was Isaac Schmidt, who was relatively unknown to Leeds fans but had been on the club’s radar for some time.

According to reports, Leeds had been monitoring Schmidt for “several months” before deciding to move for him once they identified the need for full-back cover.

Much of Leeds’ transfer activity took place in the final eight days of the window, following the sales of key players Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville, and Georginio Rutter.

Those sales brought in over £100 million, though due to Profit and Sustainability (P&S) regulations, only a portion of that could be reinvested in replacements.

To get the most value, Leeds turned to the European market, where they could acquire talent at a lower cost than in the English market.

Schmidt, despite never having played in a league as competitive as the Championship, was brought in due to his versatility, which Leeds’ recruitment team believes will help him adapt quickly.

However, Schmidt will need to be patient, as Jayden Bogle and Junior Firpo are currently Farke’s first-choice full-backs.

Farke has described Schmidt as an “important squad player” but stressed that he needs time to settle in.

At 24, Schmidt’s move to Leeds has come relatively late in his career, but he’s no stranger to overcoming challenges.

In an interview with Leeds Live, Schmidt shared that his journey to the club has been long and difficult, reflecting his perseverance and determination.

“I was so happy,” Schmidt said. “A lot of people know where I come from.

I had a really difficult journey in my career, even in my youth. To have a club like Leeds come for me was a great achievement already.

When they approached me, it was clear that I had to do everything to make the move happen.”