Leeds United Complete Signing Of 'Exciting' German International

Leeds United have completed the signing of German international forward Lukas Nmecha, who joins the club on a free transfer from VFL Wolfsburg. The 26-year-old is the Whites’ first signing of the summer as they prepare for a return to the Premier League, and will officially join Leeds on July 1.

Leeds United Complete Signing of “Exciting” German International Forward Lukas Nmecha

What We Know So Far

Leeds United have moved quickly to make Nmecha, 26, their first signing of the summer, with the forward agreeing terms on a two-year deal at Elland Road. The striker has spent the past four seasons at Wolfsburg, where he made 73 appearances and scored 19 goals in all competitions. 

The Whites reportedly faced competition from other Premier League sides for the German’s signature and will be pleased to have signed a player with significant top-level experience. The club have had considerable success signing players from the Bundesliga in recent years, with star midfielders Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev both joining from Germany.

Upon his arrival in Yorkshire, the 26-year-old said: “It’s just a great challenge and I’m really excited to get to know the team. I saw that there was dominance last season in terms of possession and goals.

“I’m an attacking player, so obviously that’s exciting for me.”

Who is Lukas Nmecha?

Nmecha, who was born in Germany but moved to Manchester as a child, began his career at Manchester City, where he eventually went on to make his professional debut in 2018 under Pep Guardiola. The forward was then sent on loan to Preston North End, VFL Wolfsburg, and Middlesbrough, before enjoying a breakout season under Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht. 

In his one season for the Belgian side, the 26-year-old scored 21 goals in 41 games, and this form earned him a permanent move to Wolfsburg in the summer of 2021. In his first campaign for the Bundesliga outfit, Nmecha’s outstanding performances earned him a first senior call-up for Germany, whom he now has seven caps for.

However, a number of severe injuries across the last three seasons has seen the striker struggle to nail down a starting spot, and he was limited to just 19 appearances last season, with only three starts. 

Where Will Nmecha Fit Into Leeds’ System?

Nmecha is a highly versatile forward, capable of operating in both the number nine and number ten roles. The German can also play on both wings, making him a highly valuable addition to Daniel Farke’s squad next season.

Leeds have made attacking reinforcements a key priority ahead of next season, with signing a new striker and attacking midfielder of particular importance, so Nmecha ticks all the boxes. At 6’ tall, the attacker also offers a considerable physical presence that may make him better suited to the rigour of Premier League football than current players such as Brenden Aaronson, who previously struggled to adapt to the top division.

If the former Man City man can rediscover the form that propelled him into Germany’s senior setup, it could be the epitome of a low-risk, high-reward transfer.