Joel Piroe looks like he’s heading out of Leeds United this summer. New reports show he is slipping further down the bench. Journalist Pete O’Rourke broke down the situation on the Transfer Insider podcast. He believes the Dutch striker will look up his options once the transfer window opens. Piroe has barely seen the pitch in the Premier League.
Leeds United Transfer News: Joel Piroe is heading out of the club
A few clubs pushed for him in January, but he stayed at Elland Road to fight for his place. That gamble hasn’t paid off. O’Rourke says the forward’s situation hasn’t changed at all. He is now the third or fourth choice for Daniel Farke. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lukas Nmecha, and Noah Okafor all ahead of him, a summer move is the only real fix for everyone.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, he explained: “It would make sense for him to assess his options in the summer. There was interest in January from a number of clubs, but he decided to reject that interest and stay at Leeds and fight for his place.
“He’ll be hoping that he does get an opportunity between now and the end of the season, but he is third or fourth choice at Elland Road right now, so as long as the likes of Calvert-Lewin, Nmecha and Okafor all stay fit, he is not going to get many minutes between now and the end of the season.
“You would think if that’s the case, it’s something that Piroe will have to look at in the summer and maybe have to look elsewhere if he wants to be playing regularly.“
Analysis: The Hero of Promotion Left in the Cold
Piroe’s fast fall from grace at Elland Road shows how harsh the top flight can be. Just a year ago, the 26-year-old was the main reason Leeds made it back to the big time. His clinical finishing won him the Championship Golden Boot with 19 goals.
He was the heart of that 2024/25 promotion run. But the Premier League is heartless. Leeds brought in established stars like Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and that has pushed Piroe to the sidelines. It feels harsh to see a former hero completely cut from the starting lineup, especially given his previous heroics.
Piroe recently chose to play for Suriname internationally. He wants to play every week to stay sharp for the World Cup qualifiers. That goal won’t happen while he’s stuck on the Leeds bench. A natural finisher like him needs a regular run of games to find his rhythm. He simply cannot do that while sitting behind Nmecha and Okafor. At 26, Piroe is entering his prime years. He cannot afford to waste them as a backup option.
Leeds United must also look at this practically. Piroe’s contract runs until 2027. This summer gives the club the best chance to get a good price for a proven scorer. Keeping a Golden Boot winner as a fourth-choice striker wastes money and lowers his market value. His work during the promotion season earns him a special place in the fans’ hearts, but a clean break helps everyone. It lets Leeds reinvest in the squad and gives Piroe the starting role he deserves.
