Wilfried Gnonto’s future at Leeds United looks increasingly uncertain after reports linked the Italian international with a move to SC Freiburg. After a difficult season under Daniel Farke, this summer may now represent the right time for both player and club to move on.
Wilfried Gnonto’s future at Leeds United appears increasingly uncertain following reports from Florian Plettenberg that Bundesliga side SC Freiburg are pushing to sign the Italian international this summer.
According to the Sky Germany reporter, talks have already begun between Freiburg, Leeds United and the player’s representatives, with Leeds understood to be open to either a permanent sale or a loan deal containing an obligation to buy.
While the deal is currently described as difficult, Freiburg’s long-standing interest suggests this is far more than a speculative enquiry.
And in truth, the timing makes sense for everybody involved.
Because, despite flashes of quality throughout his Leeds United career, this season increasingly felt like the year where Gnonto’s role at Elland Road quietly started fading.
The numbers themselves tell a concerning story.
In the Premier League this season, Gnonto has made 21 appearances without scoring a single goal and has registered just one assist. Across all competitions, the Italian has featured 27 times, scoring once and assisting twice - a disappointing return for a player once viewed as one of the club’s brightest long-term talents.
Particularly at just 22 years old.
There remains an obvious ability there. Gnonto is still an Italian international with 13 senior caps for his country, while his technical quality, acceleration and close control continue to make him a dangerous player in isolated moments. Since arriving from FC Zürich in 2022, he has also contributed 23 goals and 15 assists across 145 appearances for Leeds United in all competitions.
Those are respectable overall numbers. But they do not fully reflect the wider feeling surrounding his development.
For large periods of this season, Gnonto simply never looked central to Daniel Farke’s plans.
Leeds’ tactical switch to a 3-5-2 system arguably accelerated that problem even further. The change transformed Leeds defensively and brought balance to the side, but it also reduced the importance of traditional wide forwards within the structure. Instead, Farke increasingly prioritised wing-backs for width and relied on physicality, pressing and movement centrally around Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
That system did not naturally suit Gnonto.
Too often, he became a bit-part player used from the bench rather than somebody Leeds were consistently building around. Even when opportunities arrived, he struggled to fully impact games regularly enough to force himself back into the strongest starting eleven.
And now the reality facing both club and player may simply be this:
A fresh start could suit everybody.
From Leeds United’s perspective, Gnonto remains one of the squad’s most valuable sellable assets despite his difficult campaign. His age, international profile and previous reputation still make him attractive across Europe, particularly in leagues where technical attacking players are often developed more patiently.
Leeds also still needs to remain careful regarding PSR limitations this summer, particularly if they want to strengthen key areas of the squad following survival. Raising funds through player sales may become necessary, and Gnonto represents one of the few players capable of generating a strong fee despite not being essential to Farke’s current tactical setup.
Freiburg also feels like an interesting fit stylistically.
The Bundesliga has consistently proven a strong environment for young attacking players looking to rebuild confidence and develop tactically. Freiburg in particular have earned a reputation for intelligent coaching, structured football and giving technically gifted players clear developmental pathways.
For Gnonto, that could be hugely appealing after such a frustrating season.
At Leeds, he increasingly feels caught between roles. Not quite trusted enough defensively to become a key wing-back option, but also no longer central enough offensively to build the attack around consistently.
In Germany, he may rediscover the freedom and confidence that initially made him such an exciting talent when he first arrived in England.
There is also the emotional side to this situation.
Gnonto has experienced almost every extreme during his Leeds United career already. From becoming an instant fan favourite during the Premier League relegation battle under Jesse Marsch to refusing to play during the Championship promotion push before eventually rebuilding his relationship with supporters again, his time at Elland Road has often felt turbulent.
Now another crossroads has arrived.
At just 22, Gnonto still has enormous potential and plenty of time to develop into a top-level attacking player. But it increasingly feels difficult to imagine that happening consistently within Leeds’ current tactical structure under Farke.
That does not necessarily mean either side has failed.
Sometimes systems simply evolve in ways that no longer suit certain players.
And as Leeds prepare for a huge summer rebuild following Premier League survival, Wilfried Gnonto may quietly become one of the first major names to move on.