Leeds United's 10 biggest sales of all time

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 21 Dec 2023 15:16 GMT
• 6 min read

Leeds United are one of the biggest and most well-supported clubs in England, with their successes in the 1960s and 1970s still fresh in the memory of the club's devoted fanbase.

Recent years have seen them climb back to the sharp end of English football, with the arrival of Marcelo Bielsa helping eradicate years of Championship mediocrity.

However, despite returning to the Premier League under Bielsa, Leeds are now back in the Championship after they suffered relegation to the second tier in 2022-23 with Sam Allardyce at the helm.

Below, FootballTransfers lists Leeds' 10 most expensive departures.

10. Robbie Keane - €10.5m (to Tottenham, 2002)

The 10th most expensive sale in Leeds United's history is that of Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane.

The Wolves academy graduate spent time in Italy with Inter Milan in the late 1990s before he was signed by Leeds in 2001.

However, he lasted just one year at Elland Road before being sold to Tottenham for €10.5 million. Keane netted 18 goals in 55 games during his sole campaign as a Leeds player.

9. Jack Clarke - €11m (to Tottenham, 2019)

Leeds academy star Jack Clarke was moved on for a very good fee when he joined Tottenham in 2019.

Clarke signed for the north London club after four goal contributions in 22 Championship games during the 2018-19 campaign.

However, his move to Spurs didn't worked out. After being loaned back to Leeds for six months, Clarke was sent out on loan a further three times, and he joined Sunderland on a permanent deal in 2022.

8. Ross McCormack - €11.8m (to Fulham, 2014)

This was a move that shocked the Championship as Ross McCormack reportedly demanded to leave Leeds in order to join Fulham in 2014.

The Yorkshire side obliged, selling their star for €11.8m to Craven Cottage. The Scottish forward had contributed 58 goals and 31 assists in just over 150 Leeds games, and he continued that fine form at Fulham.

However, upon joining Aston Villa in 2016, McCormack's career took a turn, and he was loaned out on four separate times before leaving as a free agent in 2019.

7. Jonathan Woodgate - €13.5m (to Newcastle, 2003)

One of very few British players to feature for Real Madrid, Jonathan Woodgate was at Leeds before he touched down in Spain.

The Englishman was another product of the impressive youth system at Leeds, and notched up over 100 appearances for the club before he was sold to Newcastle.

Injury problems caught up with him, however, and his subsequent time at Real Madrid was most well-known for extended periods of time spent on the treatment table.

6. Chris Wood - €16.4m (to Burnley, 2017)

Chris Wood spent two years at Leeds following his move from Leicester City, establishing himself as one of the Championship's deadliest marksmen during his time at the club.

He scored 44 goals in 88 Leeds games, including 30 during his final year at Elland Road. That form earned him a move to Premier League side Burnley, who broke their own transfer record to sign the New Zealand international.

Wood joined Newcastle from Burnley in 2022 before signing for Nottingham Forest in January 2023.

5. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - €16.7m (to Atletico Madrid, 1999)

One of the most clinical strikers of his era, Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink made the move from Leeds to Atletico Madrid in 1999 to become the club's record sale at the time.

After being signed from Boavista in Portugal in 1997, Hasselbaink netted 47 goals in 87 games in all competitions for Leeds, and won the 1998-99 Premier League Golden Boot.

He was sold to Atleti in 1999 before returning to England with Chelsea.

4. Tyler Adams - €26.9m (to Bournemouth, 2023)

Tyler Adams lasted just one year at Leeds as he jumped ship following their relegation to the Championship.

The USMNT international arrived at the club from RB Leipzig for €17m, meaning Leeds turned an impressive €9.9m profit after just a year.

Adams was one of Leeds' standout players during his sole season at the club and his hamstring injury - which ended his season in March 2023 - played a major role in why the Elland Road club weren't able to survive.

3. Rio Ferdinand - €46m (to Man Utd, 2002)

The man who topped this list for 20 years, Rio Ferdinand, now features in third place. The English defender had been signed from boyhood club West Ham just two years prior, but his performances for Leeds caught the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson and Man Utd.

Ferdinand had already become the world's most expensive defender when Leeds signed him in 2000, and he broke his own record when he left Leeds after 72 appearances for the club.

The move was also a British transfer record, but it was just shy of the €50m Leeds had reportedly wanted.

2. Kalvin Phillips - €49m (to Man City, 2022)

Ferdinand's long-standing record was finally ousted by Kalvin Phillips in the 2022 summer transfer window.

Just like many on this list, Phillips came through the Leeds academy and was a consistent performer under Marcelo Bielsa for many years, making over 200 appearances for the club.

Phillips earned international recognition following his outstanding form in the white shirt of Leeds and won England's 'Men's Player of the Year' award for 2021.

He was sold to Premier League champions Manchester City for €49m in 2022, but he has struggled for form and fitness since leaving his boyhood club.

1. Raphinha - €58m (to Barcelona, 2022)

Phillips' record as the biggest Leeds sale ever lasted only a matter of weeks as Raphinha was offloaded to Barcelona in the same summer.

The Brazilian had developed into one of the Premier League's most exciting wingers during his two years at Elland Road, which enticed Barca to swoop.

He scored 17 Premier League goals and delivered 12 assists during his time at the club and he proved crucial in Leeds avoiding relegation in his final year.

Raphinha form led to him receiving bids from Barcelona, Chelsea and Arsenal, but he always dreamed of playing for the Blaugrana and he moved to the Camp Nou in 2022.

The 10 biggest Leeds sales of all time