Leeds United have emerged as serious contenders to sign Belgian striker Loïs Openda from Juventus this summer, as relayed via Sport Witness. The 26-year-old looks certain to leave Turin after one of the most disappointing seasons any forward has endured at the club in recent memory. Juventus signed Openda on loan from RB Leipzig last summer for an initial €3.3m fee, with an obligation to buy triggered once the club secured a top-ten Serie A finish, bringing the total outlay to roughly €44m.
Leeds United are interested in Juventus outcast Loïs Openda ahead of the summer window
Despite his strong track record, he scored 41 goals and provided 18 assists in 93 games for Leipzig, finishing as the Bundesliga’s third-top scorer in 2023-24 behind only Harry Kane and Serhou Guirassy. Openda managed just two goals from 34 appearances all season. He has played only once in the past seven matches, and Luciano Spalletti has essentially frozen him out of the squad.
Hence, Juventus plan to loan him out this summer, hoping to rebuild his value rather than taking a massive loss on a permanent sale. Coventry City, who won the Championship title under Frank Lampard, were the first club to reach out to Juventus, while Leeds United have kept a close eye on the situation, having scouted Openda since his time in Ligue 1 with Lens back in 2023.
Does Loïs Openda actually fit what Daniel Farke wants from Leeds United next season?
Honestly, this isn’t as simple as the headlines make it seem. Leeds sit nine points clear of the relegation zone and have pretty much secured Premier League football for 2026-27, so Farke can recruit with confidence rather than panic. Openda’s best traits are still there; his directness, raw pace, and movement in the box made Leipzig a real threat in Europe, but his struggles in a rigid, possession-based system were exposed badly in Turin.
A loan deal would work well for Leeds United, protecting them financially while giving Openda the regular game time he needs. If Farke can get Leeds playing with the same high-intensity, vertical pressing style that Leipzig used to get the best out of him, the move makes sense. However, Leeds United need a striker who can hit the ground running, not a project they have to rebuild from the ground up. The risk is there, but the potential reward is massive.
