It may not come as a surprise to learn that Leeds United were the most creative team in the Championship last season.
The 2024/25 winners, who gained promotion back to the Premier League with over 100 points, were a standout side across all areas of the game, particularly when it came to their creative numbers.
According to FBref, they topped the metric for the most key passes overall, with 562, and the most key passes per 90 minutes, averaging an impressive 12.2. Daniel Farke turned his side into a creative force, channelling the innovation of club legends like Pablo Hernandez.
It seems the Elland Road side are about to become even more deadly in the final third, if recent transfer reports are anything to go by.
Leeds enter race to sign attacking midfielder
It has already been a busy transfer window for the Whites. They have signed defender Jakob Bijol from Udinese and striker Lukas Nmecha from Wolfsburg on a free transfer. Next, it seems, Farke’s side will move onto attacking midfield.
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That is according to a recent report from talkSPORT. Journalist Alex Crook has reported that Leeds are one of two sides who ‘hold an interest’ in signing young Anderlecht midfielder Mario Stroeykens this summer.
It will not be a straightforward deal to do for the Yorkshire outfit. West Ham United are also one of the teams showing a keen interest in the Belgian, as he fits their transfer policy of ‘targeting young up-and-coming players’.
Whichever side manages to sign the 20-year-old, the fee is already made clear; Stroeykens is valued at £17m by the Belgian giants.
Why Stroeykens would be a good signing
If Leeds do manage to sign the young attacking midfielder this summer, he would join an exciting crop of talent in the final third and add to the creativity already at Farke’s disposal. He has made an impressive start to his Anderlecht career.
Despite being just 20 years of age, Stroeykens has already notched up 132 appearances for Anderlecht, whose academy he graduated from. In that time, he’s managed to score 16 goals and register 15 assists, playing mainly as a number 10, but also on both flanks and as a striker.
The attacking midfielder, who was born in Zellik just outside of Brussels, impressed in the 2024/25 campaign. In 39 appearances, he bagged five goals and created seven chances, which included nine goal involvements in 13 league games to start the season. As football scout Antonio Mango said, he has an “elite profile” which is on show with those numbers
How Leeds would love for Stroeykens to have the same impact on the club as Hernandez had. A club legend, the Spaniard donned that famous White shirt for five seasons, helping the club return to the Premier League with promotion in 2019/20.
Altogether, Hernandez made 175 appearances for the Elland Road club, finding the back of the net 36 times and grabbing 41 assists.
In four Championship seasons, he assisted eight goals once, nine goals twice and an incredible 12 goals in 2018/19. As the numbers show, he was a creative genius, described as a “wizard” by Leeds’ official account on X.
Some of the underlying numbers on FBref behind Stroeykens’ good form last season are impressive. Indeed, they certainly suggest he has the talent to replicate what Hernandez did at Elland Road.
For example, compared to midfielders in the 14 leagues most similar to the Belgian top flight, he averaged 1.53 key passes and 0.77 goal-creating actions, which rank him in the top 16% and 1% respectively. Those numbers show just how creative he is, and the fact that he is constantly involved in his side’s goals, even if indirectly.
Key passes
1.53
84th
Progressive passes
6.61
83rd
Expected assists
0.2xA
94th
Shot-creating actions
4.01
92nd
Goal-creating actions
0.77
99th
Take-ons completed
1.12
90th
They are certainly encouraging numbers from the 20-year-old. He would have a lot to do if he wants to become as good as Hernadez was at Leeds, but there is no doubt that the talent and data to back it up are already in place for Stroeykens.
For just £17m, this could be a bargain for Farke, and someone who will further increase the creativity and attacking threat of his side, which is much needed in the Premier League.
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