Leeds United’s success in securing Ao Tanaka for just £3 million has turned out to be a massive win for the club — and a significant setback for his former side, Fortuna Düsseldorf.
For casual fans of the Championship, names like Dan James, Manor Solomon, or even top scorer Joel Piroe might be the obvious picks when discussing the driving forces behind Leeds’ push for promotion back to the Premier League. As is often the case, the goal-getters and flair players tend to attract most of the attention.
However, those who watch Leeds week in and week out at Elland Road will argue that one of the most crucial players is a less glamorous figure — but one who acts as the glue holding Daniel Farke’s high-flying side together.
Ao Tanaka does not dominate any of Leeds’ individual statistical categories — apart from interceptions, where he shares top spot with central defender Joe Rodon, both averaging 1.3 per game. What sets Tanaka apart is his ability to excel across various areas, making him an essential component of the team. His versatility allows him to orchestrate Leeds’ play, spark attacking moves, and quickly snuff out opposition threats.
This all-round impact has helped Tanaka climb to third place in FotMob’s overall Championship player rankings.
A trio of impressive and varied goals has further boosted his profile — a thunderous long-range strike against Hull City, a cheeky backheel finish against Sheffield Wednesday, and a looping header in the match against Sheffield United. These moments of quality have started to attract attention from those outside Leeds’ loyal fanbase.
For Leeds supporters, Tanaka’s influence goes even deeper. Many see the tireless Japanese midfielder as one of the key differences between this season’s title-chasing team and the one that fell short in the play-offs last year.
While Leeds’ promotion charge gathers momentum — with five wins in their last six matches — Fortuna Düsseldorf’s fortunes have taken a downward turn.
Although Fortuna are still only four points behind Bundesliga 2 leaders Hamburg, they have dropped to seventh in the standings. More worrying for the German side is their form; last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Greuther Fürth meant Fortuna had managed only five wins in their previous 17 league games.
To match their 63-point haul from last season, Fortuna would need to win eight of their final ten matches — a tall order given their current struggles. Defensively, they are also on track to surpass the 40 goals they conceded over the entire 2023/24 campaign.
A German publication recently highlighted the underlying causes of Fortuna’s problems, with a lack of quality in several key areas — particularly in midfield — standing out. That absence is felt most keenly in the central zone Tanaka used to command with both composure and authority.
The publication went further, saying Fortuna are missing players with leadership qualities, like Tanaka. They noted that Fortuna currently lack the ability to dominate games and apply sustained pressure on opponents — something Tanaka’s presence previously provided.
The loss of Tanaka has been felt not only in terms of leadership but also in his technical reliability. Last season, only two Fortuna players posted a better pass completion rate than Tanaka’s impressive 88.5%. His ability to keep possession ticking over and link play effectively was a key pillar of the team’s success.
The absence of that consistency is being felt acutely this season. The same publication highlighted how basic passing errors and sloppy turnovers plagued Fortuna’s recent defeat to Greuther Fürth. Simple passes over short distances frequently went astray, and basic misunderstandings between players sowed panic within the team. The technical shortcomings were glaring.
Fortuna Düsseldorf’s sporting director reflected on this situation back in December, as their early-season form began to unravel. Even though Fortuna knew Tanaka was a talented player when they had him, it’s only after his departure that they’ve fully realized his true importance.
He acknowledged that Tanaka’s contributions may not always have been eye-catching, but his influence on the team’s balance and stability was enormous. His presence allowed the whole team to function more effectively.
Fortuna believed for a while that they could cope without Tanaka and other departing players. However, reality has shown otherwise. Their initial positive results gave them false confidence, and their inability to replace Tanaka’s qualities has contributed to their slump.
Ultimately, Fortuna’s struggles this season have made it even clearer what a valuable asset Leeds United now have in Ao Tanaka — a player whose blend of composure, tenacity, and technical skill has become indispensable at Elland Road, while leaving a void in Düsseldorf’s midfield that they have yet to fill.