Leeds Chief Explains Bamford Exit and Calvert-Lewin Deal

Sometimes, moving forward means letting go of the past. For Leeds United, that moment came this summer with the departure of Patrick Bamford.

The striker leaves the club with his reputation intact and his head held high, remembered as one of the defining figures of the Marcelo Bielsa era. His goals not only fired the Whites back into the Premier League but also helped them stay there between 2020 and 2023.

While the board faced criticism throughout the summer transfer window, they deserve credit for retaining their core talent. Unlike the last relegation, no key players were allowed to leave on the cheap, or in fact, at all this summer.

Ten new recruits arrived, though the debate now turns to the exact quality and money spent of those additions.

Evans on Bamford Departure

Leeds’ managing director Robbie Evans recently explained Bamford’s exit, making clear the decision was shaped by Daniel Farke’s plans:

“Daniel [Farke] made clear early in camp that Pat was not in his primary plans. At that point it felt fairest to Pat and to the club that he be let free to go and so we worked to get a mutual determination done that allows him that freedom. We love Pat, club legend, helped us get promoted twice, but at that point in time it was the fairest thing for everyone involved.”

Bamford leaves Elland Road after 205 appearances and 60 goals. His standout season came in 2020/21, when the former Middlesbrough forward scored 17 league goals under Bielsa in the Premier League.

But recurring injuries ultimately derailed his progress and reduced his status as an undisputed starter. Had he stayed this season, Farke was prepared to push him out of the first-team picture altogether, with training alongside the under-21s looming as a likely outcome.

Image via Leeds United FC

A New Frontline

To refresh their attack, Leeds turned to the free agent market, bringing in Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha. Calvert-Lewin is the marquee attacking signing, arriving with nine years of Premier League experience at Everton. He scored 71 goals in 273 appearances for the Toffees, though in the last few years, his career has been derailed by persistent injuries.

Evans praised the deal and the striker’s decision to commit to Elland Road:

“We’re very proud of the way we went and got Dom, who, by the way, turned down a Champions League contract the day we signed him. We’re thrilled that he’s here.”

“A shared view from the manager, from the recruitment and from the sporting director was that of all the options that were even plausibly available to us nobody was a better fit to the objective of staying up this season than Dominic.”

Gamble or Guarantee?

It was a bold statement of faith in the England international, who has played for the national side 11 times. Yet his injury record leaves a huge question mark as to whether he can rediscover his form by overcoming his injury demons.

Calvert-Lewin has not reached double figure goals in a Premier League campaign since 2020/21 and managed only 26 appearances for Everton in 2024/25.

The statement by Evans is said in good spirit, and encourages Leeds faithfuls to believe that Calvert-Lewin can rediscover his best version in a Leeds shirt.

However, the added pressure for the former Everton striker to do this is unnecessary. The current pressure for goals in the team lingers, as Farke’s side have only scores once in the opening three fixtures.