Key Points
- Stunning Pre-Season Strike: Brazilian winger Igor Paixão scored a spectacular goal to help Olympique de Marseille secure a 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao in a pre-season encounter between two of Marcelo Bielsa’s former clubs.
- £43m Price Tag Established: French media outlet Foot Mercato reports that Marseille have notified Leeds United that a fee of £43 million (€50 million) will be required to secure Paixão’s signature this summer.
- Marseille Open to Sale: Despite Paixão registering 19 goal contributions during his debut season at the Stade Vélodrome, the French club remain willing to sanction a transfer for the right price.
- History of Transfer Pursuit: Leeds United previously pursued the 26-year-old winger twelve months ago when an official bid was accepted by Feyenoord, only for the player to select a move to Marseille instead.
- Ambitious Recruitment Drive: Under interim recruitment leadership overseen by Adam Underwood, Leeds United have already broken their overall transfer record this window by securing England international goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City in a deal worth up to £45 million.
Leeds United (The Leeds Times) August 10, 2026 – Leeds United target Igor Paixão underlined his growing reputation with a memorable long-range goal in Olympique de Marseille’s 3-1 pre-season victory over Athletic Bilbao, amid ongoing reports that the French club have set a £43 million price tag on his head. Following Leeds’ recent landmark signing of England goalkeeper James Trafford for a fee rising to £45 million, the Elland Road hierarchy under recruitment director Adam Underwood are actively exploring whether to shatter their spending record once again to bring the Brazilian forward to West Yorkshire.
What Happened in the Match Between Marseille and Athletic Bilbao?
In a pre-season friendly hosted at the Stade Vélodrome—a fixture carrying added intrigue given both clubs were previously managed by Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa—Marseille produced an impressive team performance to earn a 3-1 victory over Spanish side Athletic Bilbao.
As reported by French media, former Lille midfielder Angel Gomes opened the scoring to give Marseille an early lead. Athletic Bilbao responded before the break when Oihan Sancet capitalised on a defensive opening to level the match.
However, the defining moment of the match arrived shortly before half-time through Igor Paixão. Cutting inside from his position on the left wing, the 26-year-old Brazilian unloosed a curved right-footed shot from distance that nested into the bottom corner of the net.
Marseille later added a third goal to wrap up the victory, but it was Paixão’s individual effort that generated widespread conversation across sports media platforms.
Why Is Igor Paixão Being Linked with a Record Transfer to Leeds United?
As reported by Foot Mercato, Marseille have informed interested parties that they would require a sum of £43 million (€50 million) to allow Paixão to depart during the current transfer window.
Paixão completed a high-profile move from Feyenoord to Marseille twelve months ago in a deal valued around €35 million (£30 million). During his debut campaign in Ligue 1, he registered 19 goal contributions across all competitions, demonstrating productivity both as a goalscorer and a provider from wide areas.
Leeds United have long held a concrete interest in the winger. A year ago, Leeds had an official transfer proposal accepted by Dutch club Feyenoord, but the player ultimately chose to sign for Marseille.
Despite that initial setback, Leeds recruitment director Adam Underwood has maintained tracking data on the player as the club looks to add proven top-flight attacking quality to manager Daniel Farke’s squad.
How Does This Potential Deal Fit Into Leeds United’s Broader Transfer Strategy?
Leeds United have already demonstrated significant financial ambition during the summer transfer window. As reported by Sky Sports, Leeds completed a club-record agreement to sign England international goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City.
That transaction involved a guaranteed initial fee of £40 million with structured performance add-ons pushing the potential total package to £45 million, surpassing the club’s previous record fee of £35.5 million paid for French forward Georginio Rutter in January 2023.
According to reports, Leeds United are weighing up whether to commit further funds to secure Paixão. While the club’s priority remains securing tactical balance—including left-back cover following an injury concern for Swedish defender Gabriel Gudmundsson—the opportunity to secure a prime-age winger with Champions League experience remains under internal review.
As detailed by reporting in L’Équipe, Marseille head coach Bruno Genesio publicly praised Paixão’s application and work ethic during pre-season preparations, expressing a strong desire to retain the winger. However, Marseille remain open to business should an offer matching their £43 million valuation be submitted before the transfer deadline.
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Background to the Pursuit
The interest in Igor Paixão represents a continuation of a multi-year transfer strategy at Elland Road aimed at recruiting dynamic, high-output wide forwards.
Paixão first came to prominence during his tenure at Feyenoord, where his performances in the Eredivisie and European competitions attracted attention from several top European leagues.
During the summer transfer window of 2025, Leeds United submitted a formal proposal that satisfied Feyenoord’s valuation.
However, Marseille’s qualification for European football and their willingness to guarantee a central role under their sporting directorate led Paixão to choose France.
Over the course of the 2025/26 season, Paixão established himself as a primary focal point in Marseille’s attack following the exits of high-profile forwards Mason Greenwood and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
His return of 19 goal contributions confirmed his adaptability in a top-five European league. Simultaneously, Leeds United’s structural reorganisation under their current ownership has provided the financial backing required to re-enter negotiations for elite targets previously considered out of reach.
Predictions for the Transfer Impact
If Leeds United meet Marseille’s £43 million asking price and complete the acquisition of Igor Paixão, the move will significantly alter the strategic landscape for several key stakeholders:
Securing Paixão would represent a major tactical upgrade for manager Daniel Farke. Operating primarily from the left wing, Paixão offers direct ball-carrying capability, press resistance, and proven scoring output from distance.
His addition would reduce reliance on existing wide options and signal to Premier League rivals that Leeds United possess the financial capacity to compete for established European talent. However, committing another £43 million fee following the £45 million investment in James Trafford would necessitate strict financial management regarding squad wage depth and future transfer windows.
For Marseille, selling Paixão for £43 million would yield a net profit of approximately £13 million on a player signed just twelve months prior.
While the departure of their top-performing winger would create an immediate tactical void for head coach Bruno Genesio ahead of the domestic season, the resulting transfer funds would provide flexibility to re-invest in multiple squad areas before the window closes.
For Igor Paixão, a move to West Yorkshire would provide a direct entry into the Premier League after missing out on the opportunity a year ago.
Joining Leeds as a joint-record signing alongside James Trafford would place substantial performance expectations on the 26-year-old, requiring immediate adaptation to the physical demands and tactical intensity of English football.
