adminLeeds United opted to approve a loan departure for winger Wilfried Gnonto on deadline day as he completed a season-long switch to Italian side Fiorentina.
The Whites agreed to let him make a temporary move to Italy because they were able to finalise a deal to bring in Jean-Matteo Bahoya on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Daniel Farke was keen to strengthen his attacking options before approving a move for the former Italy U21 international, with Bahoya arriving to add depth in the wide positions.
Fiorentina have also been handed an option to purchase Gnonto permanently for a fee believed to be around £18m at the end of the season, meaning the forward’s time at Elland Road could already be coming to an end.
How Wilfried Gnonto’s career at Leeds unravelled
The 22-year-old attacker was previously a crucial player for Farke when the Whites were battling for promotion from the Championship during the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns.
Gnonto made a significant contribution across both seasons and registered 19 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined during the title-winning campaign under the German manager.
Sadly, however, the move up to the Premier League appeared to be beyond the Italian forward, who struggled to make an impression in the top flight last season.
The former Inter prospect failed to find the net and managed just one assist in 24 Premier League appearances during the 2025/26 campaign, with only four of those coming as starts.
He failed to produce enough attacking quality to demonstrate that he was capable of competing at Premier League level, which eventually resulted in Farke opting to replace him towards the end of this summer’s transfer window.
Leeds star could follow in Gnonto’s footsteps
Gnonto’s situation serves as a warning to the rest of the current first-team squad, highlighting how rapidly a player can go from being a standout performer to an unwanted figure.
One player who could currently be at risk of experiencing a similar decline is USA international Brenden Aaronson, who is struggling to find his best form in the attacking third.
The 25-year-old has been an important player for Farke in the number ten position since returning to the club in 2024, playing a part in their Championship title-winning campaign and making 43 starts that season.
There were doubts about whether he could make the transition to the Premier League, although he managed four goals and three assists across the opening 20 matches of last season.
However, the American midfielder has returned to the kind of form he displayed during his first Premier League spell following his impressive run during the opening half of last term.
Aaronson scored once and recorded three assists in 36 Premier League matches during the 2022/23 campaign, when the Whites were relegated, and his current performances are beginning to mirror that disappointing spell.
He has not created a single opportunity for a teammate across the first three Premier League games of the current season and has now gone ten matches without registering an assist for the club in all competitions.
His record is even more concerning in terms of goals. He has failed to score in each of his last 25 competitive appearances for the West Yorkshire side across all competitions, with that barren run stretching back to January.
Aaronson’s most recent goals for the club came during a 4-3 defeat against Newcastle United in January, when he scored twice at St. James’ Park, underlining his lack of attacking influence over the last eight months.
The attacking midfielder was left among the substitutes for Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion and now faces increased competition for his position following Bahoya’s arrival.
Unless he can rediscover his form and begin producing greater quality in the final third, Aaronson could become the next Gnonto at Elland Road, with his future potentially coming under scrutiny if he continues to struggle to make an impact.
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