Leeds United has seen several key players step up in their pursuit of Championship promotion under manager Daniel Farke. Among them, Brenden Aaronson returned to the squad this season after spending the previous campaign on loan at Union Berlin. Initially, he made a strong impact, but his performances have declined in recent months. Despite tallying eight goals and two assists, only one of those contributions has come in the current calendar year.
His recent struggles were evident in the match against QPR, where a costly mistake allowed Koki Saito to score, ultimately costing Leeds two valuable points. Aaronson has been unable to fill the void left by the departure of Georginio Rutter, who was a key player for the team last season before moving to Brighton in a £40 million transfer after Leeds failed to secure promotion.
⚪️ Georginio Rutter has been SO good for Leeds United this season:
Games: 37
Goals: 6
Assists: 16 🥇
Shot-creating actions: 152
Goal-creating actions: 28 🥇
Key passes: 76
Successful take-ons: 104 🥈
Fouls won: 92 🥇
Tackles in final third: 18 🥇A key piece in Daniel Farke’s… pic.twitter.com/WdqMpw3HbM
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) March 18, 2024
Rutter joined Leeds in January 2022 from Hoffenheim for £35 million, aiming to help the club avoid relegation. However, he struggled to adapt to the Premier League, managing only one assist in 11 appearances. Despite these initial difficulties, he flourished in the Championship, registering eight goals and 16 assists while playing in an advanced midfield role. His contributions were crucial to Leeds’ efforts last season, making his departure a significant loss for the team.
With Rutter gone, Leeds needed a new attacking leader, and Joel Piroe has emerged as a key figure. The Dutch forward, signed for £10 million in the summer of 2023, has been instrumental in the team’s success. Although initially debated whether he should play as a number ten or a central striker, he has now settled into his role and has been highly effective.
Piroe has scored 15 goals in the 2024/25 season, making him the second-highest scorer in the Championship behind Norwich City’s Borja Sainz. His performances have been vital in keeping Leeds in the race for promotion, with his statistics closely matching and even surpassing those of Rutter’s last season.
WOW.
Joel Piroe with an absolute ROCKET to secure the win for Leeds United! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/ZkcOiH0QrX
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 24, 2025
When comparing their performances at Leeds, Piroe has played 38 games this season, while Rutter featured in 48 last season. Piroe has already scored more goals (15) than Rutter did (7), and he averages 3.1 shots per game compared to Rutter’s 2.9. His pass accuracy stands at 78%, significantly higher than Rutter’s 69%. He also has better efficiency in possession, being dispossessed only 0.9 times per game compared to Rutter’s 2.6.
Leeds has been in excellent form since November, suffering only one defeat during that period. With eight games remaining in the season, they are in a strong position to secure promotion back to the Premier League. Piroe’s impact has been crucial in filling the void left by Rutter, making him a key player in Leeds’ push for a return to the top flight.