Leeds avoid transfer nightmare with minutes to spare as they agree deal to sign highly-rated winger

Leeds United have agreed a deal to sign Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Jean-Matteo Bahoya, talkSPORT understands.

The France Under-21 international will head to Elland Road on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy, with Leeds winger Wilfried Gnonto set to depart the club and join Fiorentina.

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This represents a dramatic late turnaround, after it initially appeared as though Gnonto would not be allowed to leave.

The 22-year-old had spent the past 24 hours in Italy in the hope of completing a move to Fiorentina, with pictures of him in their iconic purple kit circulating on social media.

However, talkSPORT previously reported that Leeds wouldn’t sanction a deal for Gnonto without finding a replacement.

But with the Whites since agreeing a deal to sign Bahoya in his place, this has paved the way for Gnonto to join Fiorentina.

Late drama

Leeds now look set to prevail in the race to sign Frankfurt star Bahoya, who has been chased by several Premier League clubs this summer.

Sunderland have also enquired about the 21-year-old, while Hull previously came closest to securing his signature.

The Tigers had agreed a deal to sign Bahoya, with permission granted for a medical, only for the player to turn down the transfer.

But a move to England in the final few hours of the transfer window is now set to materialise, with Leeds the destination.

A deal for Bahoya has been triggered as Gnonto closes in on a move to Fiorentina at the 11th hour.

The transfer appears close to completion, with talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs reporting that Gnonto had completed his medical with the Serie A outfit.

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Gnonto’s imminent move away from Elland Road will spell the end of his four-year stay at the club.

Since joining the Whites in 2022, the Italy international has made 147 appearances, scoring 23 times. He played a key role in the club’s promotion back to the Premier League in 2025.

Who is Jean-Matteo Bahoya?

A France U21 international, Bahoya earned Premier League interest after impressing over the last two years at Frankfurt.

The 21-year-old joined the Bundesliga side from French club Angers in 2024, and has since registered seven goals and eight assists in 78 outings.

With Bahoya’s preferred position on the left wing, he is capable of playing in various attacking positions, and would serve as a like-for-like replacement for Gnonto.

He offers blistering pace, having set a Bundesliga speed record after being clocked at 23.09mph during a match against Bochum in 2025.

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Leeds’ pursuit of Bahoya also follows their failure to land Mykhailo Mudryk, who is set to join Tottenham on loan.

Should Bahoya join Leeds, he will become their sixth signing of the summer transfer window, which has seen them complete the record-breaking signing of goalkeeper James Trafford, while Harry Wilson has also moved to Elland Road from Fulham.