Leeds United sign former Man City striker Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer from Wolfsburg
Leeds United have completed the signing of German international Lukas Nmecha, bringing the striker to Elland Road on a two-year deal. The 26-year-old joins on a free transfer from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg and becomes manager Daniel Farke’s first acquisition of the summer transfer window.
Nmecha arrives in West Yorkshire with experience across Europe’s top leagues, having previously featured for Manchester City, Preston North End, Middlesbrough, Anderlecht, and Wolfsburg. His move marks a significant addition to Leeds’ attacking options as the club looks to strengthen for the upcoming campaign.
Born in Hamburg, Nmecha moved to England at a young age and came through the youth ranks at Manchester City. He made his Premier League debut under Pep Guardiola in 2018 but struggled to break into City’s star-studded first team, leading to a series of loan moves to gain regular football.
His early career saw him gain valuable experience with loan spells at Preston North End in the Championship, a brief return to Wolfsburg, a stint with Middlesbrough, and a prolific season with Anderlecht in Belgium. In 2021, he made his permanent switch to Wolfsburg, where he enjoyed four solid seasons.
During his second spell at Wolfsburg, Nmecha made 85 appearances, scoring 19 goals across all competitions. His performances earned him international recognition, and in 2021, he made his debut for the German national side. Though he had previously represented England at youth levels up to the Under-21s, Nmecha ultimately opted to switch allegiance to his birth nation. His most recent of seven caps for Germany came in 2022.
Now, after four years in the Bundesliga, Nmecha is set for a return to English football with Leeds. The move sees him officially join the club on 1 July, as Farke looks to bolster his squad for a campaign filled with high expectations.
Speaking after securing his first signing of the window, Leeds manager Daniel Farke expressed his satisfaction at capturing a player with Nmecha’s pedigree. “Lukas brings experience, versatility, and quality to our attacking line. He’s played at the highest level, both domestically and internationally, and will add valuable depth to our squad.”
For Nmecha, the move offers an opportunity to re-establish himself in English football and work under a fellow German manager. His blend of pace, technical ability, and physical presence will give Leeds a new dimension in attack, while his experience across multiple leagues provides a valuable asset to Farke’s plans.
Leeds fans will be hopeful that Nmecha can replicate the form he showed during his productive spell in Belgium, where he scored 21 goals in a single season for Anderlecht, and offer consistent goal-scoring support as the club aims for success in the upcoming campaign.
The move also reunites Nmecha with English football after seven years away, having left Manchester City in search of regular first-team opportunities. With Leeds looking to strengthen after a challenging period, Nmecha’s arrival signals their intent to build a squad capable of competing at the highest level.
Further additions are expected at Elland Road in the coming weeks, but for now, Nmecha’s signing gives Leeds supporters an early reason for optimism as the summer window gathers pace.
