Leeds United are closing in on Sporting CP midfielder Hidemasa Morita, with a free transfer move taking shape ahead of the 2026/27 season. The Whites have put a formal two-year deal on the table, running until 2028, which includes an option for a further year. While Morita is reportedly keen on the move, there is one major caveat, and that is he wants guaranteed Premier League football before putting pen to paper. With Leeds United looking well-placed to beat the relegation, that hurdle is becoming less of a worry by the week.
Leeds United close in on Hidemasa Morita
Daniel Farke picked out Morita as a key target months ago, viewing the 31-year-old as the missing piece for a more possession-heavy style at Elland Road. Beyond his technical ability, Farke is also looking to tap into the existing chemistry Morita shares with Ao Tanaka from the Japan national team, hoping the pair can replicate that partnership in the heart of the Leeds United midfield.
Sporting, for their part, seem resigned to losing him. Having failed to find a buyer for a fee between €8m and €10m over the last two windows, the Lisbon giants are now set to see him walk away for nothing. Even so, Sporting have had their money’s worth; Morita helped secure two league titles and a Portuguese Cup after arriving from Santa Clara for a modest €3.45m back in 2022.
Does Morita actually fix the issues Leeds have faced this season?
On paper, this is a move that stacks up, even if it comes with a few “what ifs.” Morita’s stats in the 2025/26 campaign are brilliant, averaging 58.5 passes per game at nearly 87% accuracy, while his creative numbers put him in the top 7% of midfielders in Portugal. His ability to read the game from deep is exactly what Farke’s system thrives on.
That said, there are valid concerns. A return of just one goal in 29 games is low, and a patchy injury record in recent years suggests he might find the sheer physical demand of the Premier League a struggle. Leeds United need a profile they can rely on for a full, gruelling season, not just a tidy playmaker who might drift out of games. If he stays fit, Morita is a bargain. But for Leeds fans, that remains a big “if.”
