Leeds United star Joel Piroe has revealed he chose the club over ‘a number of options’ in the summer transfer window as they fit perfectly into his ‘sporting plan’.
The Dutchman has been speaking to ESPN in the Netherlands about his career so far and his move to Leeds in the summer in particular.
He moved to Elland Road in a €14m deal from Swansea City in the summer transfer window as part of the rebuild at the club following relegation to the Championship.
He arrived at the club with a growing reputation following his time with the Swans, where he managed 46 goals and eight assists in 96 games after arriving from the Netherlands in 2021.
Those numbers meant he was linked with several sides in the summer, including some in the Premier League, who all viewed the 24-year-old as a potential bargain signing.
Instead, he ended up moving to Leeds, who moved quickly to secure his signature ahead of the competition, a decision which has paid off as he’s managed 11 goals and one assist in 25 games for Daniel Farke’s side so far this season.
The move is proving to be a smart one for him and Leeds, something Piroe is undoubtedly happy about as he aims to keep moving forwards and, upwards.
“There were a number of options,” he said on the summer transfer window.
“It was a choice between a lesser team in the Premier League or a top team in the Championship. I thought and weighed it, but in the end, I really wanted to go to Leeds United. I never really played for promotion with Swansea.
“At a top team like Leeds, as an attacker I expected to get many more chances per game than at a low flyer in the Premier League.
“Moreover, the chance of playing time at Leeds was also greater than in the Premier League. During my career so far, I have noticed how important that is. The choice for Leeds was a very conscious one for the sporting plan.”
