Adam Pope thinks £11m Leeds United player is the ‘most pointless transfer of all time’

Leeds United’s Transfer Missteps: Schmidt’s Future in Doubt, Wöber Branded “Most Pointless Signing Ever”

Leeds United have developed something of a reputation over the years for making puzzling decisions in the transfer market. While every club is prone to the occasional misfire, some of Leeds’ dealings have bordered on the disastrous.

One of the most infamous cases remains the controversial £24.5 million acquisition of Jean-Kévin Augustin—a saga that left fans scratching their heads. Signed during the club’s push for promotion, Augustin managed a paltry 48 minutes of football before his contract dispute with RB Leipzig led to legal battles and a significant financial penalty for Leeds. That deal has gone down as one of the most damaging transfer blunders in the club’s history.

Fast forward to the current squad, and while no deal has yet reached the chaotic heights of Augustin’s, concerns are beginning to mount around recent arrival Isaac Schmidt. The Swiss full-back joined Leeds for £2.5 million, with the expectation that he would provide competition and depth in the defensive ranks. However, his debut season has been a non-starter.

Despite being fit and available, Schmidt was handed just 71 minutes of Championship action throughout the entire campaign. More surprisingly, he failed to start a single league game. Understandably, this has led to growing frustration on the part of the 25-year-old, who is now believed to be reconsidering his future at Elland Road.

Many fans have pointed the finger at manager Daniel Farke, suggesting that Schmidt has not been afforded a fair opportunity to show his capabilities. When he has featured—albeit briefly—Schmidt has shown flashes of promise, making his exclusion all the more baffling. His performances in limited appearances have drawn praise, with some supporters calling for the full-back to be integrated more seriously into the squad moving forward.

Unlike others, Schmidt still has time on his side. If he stays, the upcoming season may yet offer him a chance to stake a claim in Farke’s plans, particularly with the manager under pressure to maximize resources.

However, not every player in the current Leeds roster can say the same. Austrian defender Max Wöber is another name that continues to draw criticism—and in his case, any hope of a meaningful role at the club appears to have long since evaporated.

Wöber joined Leeds for £11 million in a move that was supposed to solidify the club’s defensive line during their final Premier League campaign. But instead of becoming a dependable figure at the back, Wöber struggled to find consistency and looked ill-suited to the pace and demands of English football.

After a lacklustre stint in the top flight, the centre-back swiftly pushed for a loan move to Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach following Leeds’ relegation. His time in Germany was similarly underwhelming, and many assumed that a permanent exit was inevitable. Instead, Wöber has been loaned out yet again—this time to Werder Bremen—for another season-long spell in the Bundesliga.

The decision to retain Wöber’s contract while continually loaning him out has sparked confusion among the fanbase. In response to growing questions, BBC journalist Adam Pope recently offered a scathing take on the club’s handling of the Austrian defender during an episode of the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast.

“Fans are asking, ‘Why haven’t they sold him?’ It’s clear there was no future. The most pointless transfer of all time,” Pope declared. “He hasn’t really contributed to Leeds; it was inevitable he had to go.”

While harsh, Pope’s words reflect the sentiments of many supporters who view Wöber’s time at the club as one of wasted potential and financial misjudgment.

However, there may be a method to the madness. Reports suggest that the current loan arrangement is actually part of a broader financial strategy spearheaded by Leeds’ ownership group, 49ers Enterprises. By loaning Wöber rather than selling him at a loss, the club has managed to free up roughly £2 million in wages—an important consideration in the context of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

This wage-saving maneuver allows Leeds greater financial flexibility, effectively creating enough headroom to pursue a player worth around £10 million without violating PSR restrictions. While it may not be an ideal solution from a sporting standpoint, it’s seen as a clever workaround to support the club’s transfer ambitions this summer.

Still, the situation remains less than ideal for all involved. For Wöber, another year away from Elland Road underscores his failed spell in West Yorkshire. For Leeds, the fact that a big-money defensive signing is once again playing elsewhere is yet another reminder of recent recruitment woes.

As the club looks ahead to the new season, it remains to be seen whether Isaac Schmidt can turn things around and become a valuable asset—or if he too will join the growing list of signings that failed to make their mark in white.