Leeds United are set to improve their midfield depth with their fifth senior signing of the summer from Champions League side Newcastle United, with experienced Premier League midfielder Sean Longstaff set for a medical.
The Whites are looking to improve the control around the centre of the pitch following promotion to the Premier League. This is likely due to the lack of experience in central areas with the club’s current central options, excluding attacking midfielders, having a combined Premier League appearance count of 26.
In addition to Sean Longstaff, Leeds have also agreed on personal terms with Anton Stach. Stach is currently at TSG Hoffenheim, and Leeds are yet to agree on a price for the midfielder.
Leeds United are adding significant Premier League experience to the midfield
Sean Longstaff has been a loyal and well-respected member of the Newcastle United team for almost his entire career. Longstaff has spent time on loan at Blackpool, making 45 appearances, and Kilmarnock, making 17 appearances. Since becoming a senior player for Newcastle, he has made 214 appearances, with almost all his appearances being in the Premier League.
🚨 EXCL: Leeds United strike agreement in principle with Newcastle United to sign Sean Longstaff. Deal for 27yo midfielder (in last 12 months of #NUFC terms) worth £12m + £3m achievable add-ons. Significant recruit for #LUFC before PL return @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/2Ef3oQeyse
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 15, 2025
David Ornstein has confirmed that Sean Longstaff will leave his boyhood club to put on a different shirt for the first time since 2018. Leeds United are set to add the midfielder to their current roster, adding experience to a side that is mostly lacking experience outside the relegation zone of the Premier League.
Longstaff is also very used to the current situation that Leeds are in. He was involved in almost every Premier League struggle that Newcastle have encountered since 2018, facing relegation battles under the ownership of Mike Ashley, to the Champions League push under the new Saudi owners of the club. Longstaff was even a starter in Newcastle’s 5-2 loss to Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds in 2020, being one of the few players in that team to remain at St James’ Park.
Now, with over 200 appearances to his name, the 27-year-old is trusted by manager Eddie Howe to be a starter. In the 2023/24 season, Longstaff achieved six league goals and one in the Champions League, from midfield. Last season was a disappointing sequel to that record, as he failed to net a single goal.
Nevertheless, Sean still excels in his defensive qualities. Last season, compared to Premier League midfielders, Sean Longstaff was in the top 8% for blocks made per 90, the top 20% for tackles made, and the top 1% for tackles made in the attacking third.
Longstaff and Stach’s ability to add solidity to Leeds’ midfield
In addition to Longstaff, Leeds United have also agreed personal terms with Anton Stach, with the club currently negotiating terms with TSG Hoffenheim for the midfielder.
🚨🔵🟡 Excl | Leeds have agreed personal terms with Anton #Stach. Negotiations with TSG Hoffenheim have already started, but there is no agreement yet. TSG are currently demanding around €20m + add-ons.
The 26 y/o central midfielder is under contract until 2027. Hoffenheim… pic.twitter.com/D0I7LbLHC2
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) July 16, 2025
Approaching to sign Anton Stach, a 6’4 midfielder, and the almost certain signature of Sean Longstaff displays the characteristics that the Leeds United recruitment team are looking for. Stach is undoubtedly a solid midfielder, and not just because of his height.
In Europe’s top five leagues last season, Anton Stach ranks amongst the top 10% of midfielders for interceptions, clearances, and percentage of dribblers tackled; also impressing for the amount of touches made in defensive areas and how infrequently he is dispossessed.
As mentioned in our Jaka Bijol analysis, a key theme of Leeds‘ targets this season tends to revolve around making as few errors on the ball as possible, while also having the ability to win the ball back when in defensive positions. Stach ticks both of these boxes and also has positive, albeit not overwhelmingly so, statistics for progressive actions made, in particular, progressive passes made.
When comparing the two players, Anton Stach seems to be the superior of the two players. He ranks higher for defensive actions and is comparable for his forward-thinking displays.
There is a strong possibility that if both players are signed, they will be starting alongside each other. The players being linked suggest that a holding 4-3-3 formation might be used over Daniel Farke’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation in the Championship, due to the attacking midfield options currently consisting of Joel Piroe and Brenden Aaronson.
A 4-3-3 formation would allow for a midfield three consisting of any mixture of Ampadu, Gruev, Longstaff, Stach, or Tanaka. This allows for a player to move into attacking positions while leaving two players in more of a rest defence position; when defending, it would mean that Ethan Ampadu or Anton Stach could drop into the back line and operate as a central defender, a role that both players have experience in.
Will both signings be made?
It looks like the Sean Longstaff deal is complete if he passes his medical. Longstaff has had injuries in his career, but few have been recurring, and he hasn’t been unavailable due to an injury since 2023, when he missed five matches due to an ankle injury.
Longstaff’s signing does make the need for Anton Stach ever so slightly less vital, but the Leeds United recruitment team will still be desperate to get the signature of such an impressive midfielder.
Stach has had rumours of being linked to other clubs over the window, Manchester United being the most notable of which. Currently, Hoffenheim are requesting €20m (around £17.3m) with add-ons for the German, although Leeds will be confident of lowering that number to a more comfortable amount.
If Leeds can complete the transfer of Stach, then it will probably require the sale of a high-asset player to satisfy profit and sustainability rules. Fan favourites Willy Gnonto or Pascal Struijk would be the most obvious outgoings, with both players providing almost a complete profit, on paper at least, at a high price.