Dusseldorf 
Leeds Utd 
Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) on X
🚨🆕 Ao #Tanaka will join Leeds United with immediate effect ✔️ ▫️Medical today ▫️Contract until 2028. Fortuna Düsseldorf will receive €4m for the 25 y/o versatile midfielder. Top player. #LUFC @SkySportDE 🇯🇵
Will Ao Tanaka leave Dusseldorf and join Leeds Utd?
Rumour report
(Latest update: )Rumours suggest Leeds Utd is keen on Ao Tanaka, yet with a probability of only 58%, the move remains uncertain. Here is why.
- There are few players in the current Leeds Utd squad who are considered better in the same position, which enhances Ao Tanaka's chances of playing a key role within the team.
- Leeds Utd has often bought players who are approximately the same age as the current age of Ao Tanaka (28).
Transfer Logic score:
Pros
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Comparable age to previously attracted players
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Comparable potential to previously attracted players
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Missing star player in position on team
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Few better competitors for position (Brenden Aaronson, Ilia Gruev)
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Missing potential star player in position
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Comparable value to previously attracted players
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Some direct competitors for position
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Comparable quality to previously attracted players
Cons
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Some potentially better competitors for position (Brenden Aaronson, Ilia Gruev)
Leeds United table bid to sign Japanese 'World Cup hero' Ao Tanaka, could move to England within days
Leeds United have made an offer to Fortuna Dusseldorf to sign Japanese midfielder Ao Tanaka in a pursuit that is getting "hot", according to Bild. The German ne
Alternatives of Leeds Utd
| Skill / pot | Player | Team |
ETV The Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) is calculated by the Player Valuation Model, that calculates the accurate transfer fee for a given player. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill / pot | Player / Team / Position |
ETV The Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) is calculated by the Player Valuation Model, that calculates the accurate transfer fee for a given player. |
|
|
74.3
83.4
|
Yegor Yarmolyuk |
 Brentford
|
€46.9M |
|
73.5
76.5
|
Cheick Doucouré |
 C. Palace
|
€14.1M |
|
73.4
74.3
|
Sander Berge |
 Fulham
|
€27.9M |
|
72.9
75.3
|
Tyler Adams |
 B'mouth
|
€21.9M |
|
72.8
85.1
|
Leon Avdullahu |
 Hoffenheim
|
€37M |
|
72.7
77.1
|
Morten Frendrup |
 Genoa
|
€14.9M |
|
72.0
77.6
|
Mandela Keita |
 Parma
|
€23.3M |
|
71.7
77.1
|
Alan Varela |
 Porto
|
€37.6M |
Other interesting rumours
| Player | From / To | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolò Tresoldi | 22-10-2026 | Report | |
| Estéban Lepaul | 12-10-2026 | Report | |
| Jake O'Brien | 26-08-2026 | Report | |
| Andrei Rațiu | 21-08-2026 | Report | |
| Darío Osorio | 21-08-2026 | Report | |
| Nico Elvedi | 17-08-2026 | Report | |
| Liam Delap | 29-07-2026 | Report | |
| James Trafford | 28-07-2026 | Report |
Who is Ao Tanaka?
Ao Tanaka (JPN) is a a holding midfielder and currently plays for Leeds Utd. Ao Tanaka is 28 years old (1998/09/10). His preferred foot is Right. His jersey number is 4. Ao Tanaka has also been used as a box to box midfielder, a ball winning midfielder and as a deep lying playmaker.
Ao Tanaka's current transfer value is between €12.2M and €15M. His last transfer was from Dusseldorf to Leeds Utd in 2024. Leeds Utd paid Dusseldorf €4M for Ao Tanaka.
Ao Tanaka latest transfers and transfer rumours, season statistics and career statistics are available on FootballTransfers.
