Gabriel Gudmundsson has established himself as an important player for Leeds United since his arrival from Lille.
While he was sent off at the weekend, which is obviously a negative, the left-back has played 29 times in the Premier League so far. He is yet to score or assist but his versatility has been a help for Daniel Farke’s side as he has also played at wing-back.
Leeds United paid around €12m to land him in the summer and as things stand, he has been worth every penny.
The player has now spoken about his time at Elland Road so far, revealing what was key to the transfer from Lille.
Leeds United belief played big role
The defender spoke to the Lundh podcast recently and was asked about a host of things in his career.
He focused specifically on his move to the Whites in the summer, making it clear that the belief shown by Leeds United was very important for him to pick them.
Gudmundsson said – relayed by FotbollSkanalen: “I’m not surprised. I’ve always believed in this opportunity and that’s probably why I chose Leeds too. They were very keen to get me in. I felt that there was a good opportunity to get a lot of playing time. In the beginning, of course, it’s always a competitive situation.”
The left-back explained the likelihood of regular playing time was also a factor.
“But precisely because they were so keen to get me in, it felt like there was a good opportunity to get a lot of playing time in the beginning. Then, it’s flowed very well. Then it’s always like that, I think the more you play, the better you get.”
Elland Road move paying off
Before moving to England, the Sweden international had played regularly at Lille for four seasons in a row. In the 2024/25 campaign, he played 30 times in Ligue 1, scoring twice along the way.
At Leeds United, he has clearly carried his form forward. More than that, his availability is a big plus for his team.
Gudmundsson is someone who has the experience of playing in the Champions League. He is showing his level this season with his performances and general quality.
Players like that aren’t just important during skirmishes with relegation. He will also come in handy when the Whites are operating higher up the table.
