Orta struck gold on Leeds “diamond,” who’s now worth more than Summerville
Leeds United struck gold by signing this top star when they did.
Leeds United made it an astounding seven victories in a row in the Championship on Tuesday night versus Swansea City, The long-winded trip to Wales was made worthwhile by the Whites cruising to a 4-0 win.It was expected that Crystal Summerville would score another goal for Daniel Farke’s team against a weak Swans team, but Fried Gnonto, Summerville’s partner on the other flank, outperformed him once more for the promotion-chasing team.
Gnonto scored a brace, his second of the evening coming from a coolly struck strike following a quick counterattack by Leeds. If he stays at Elland Road this January rather than elsewhere, it could be essential for the West Yorkshire giants to secure automatic promotion.
The nimble Italian forward, who signed in 2022 for what now seems like a bargain, will seek to propel Leeds back to the Premier League before any further transfer rumours surface.
Wilfried Gnonto’s transfer value when signing for Leeds
When Gnonto was acquired by Leeds two years ago for a mere £3.8 million, Victor Orta, who was still in charge at Elland Road, executed a brilliant business move.
Setting and achieving goals for enjoyment After participating in the Inter Milan development system and eventually moving on to FC Zurich, where he scored 14 goals for the Italian powerhouses while still a teenager, Leeds did, at the time, take a chance on the promising young player pursuing his career in Switzerland.
It’s a risk that has paid off, though, as Gnonto was once rumoured to be leaving for Everton at a far larger price than the £3.8 million the Whites paid—a startling £25 million.
Putting the past behind him, the 20-year-old, who was once dubbed a “diamond” by football scout Jacek Kulig, was happy that he was not allowed to move on to a Premier League suitor. He has now scored four goals in his last four games for Leeds, helping Farke’s team forget about Daniel James’ absence from the starting lineup.
The Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the worldwide astronomical rises and falls of player transfer values.
When the time does come that Leeds might look to sell Gnonto on, they will be making a handsome profit on the skilful forward, who has seen his transfer value soar off the back of his many heroics in West Yorkshire – thus proving one rare masterstroke of the Orta regime.
Wilfried Gnonto’s transfer value in 2024
With two goals and four assists total, including a strike away at Old Trafford in a 2-2 draw with Manchester United, Gnonto was one bright spot from Leeds’ horrible relegation campaign from the previous season.
Since James hasn’t been playing lately, Gnonto’s importance has increased, and Leeds is growing increasingly smug that they won’t be able to let go of their once-wanted diamond.
Football Transfers reports that Gnonto is now worth an incredible €21.1m (£18m), making him a more valuable asset for Leeds than Summerville, who is just worth €9.9m (£8.4m).
Knowing that he can count on Gnonto to be a nuisance moving forward, even in James’ absence, Farke will appreciate the breadth of attack options available to him.
James did replace Gnonto in the Wales match against Swansea, but the German manager in the Whites dugout won’t fully cast the rejuvenated 20-year-old on the fringes.
Rather, he’ll see it as healthy competition for places with Gnonto turning around his Leeds career when at one point he was even refusing to play earlier in the season
