Key Points
- Italian outfit Fiorentina have entered active negotiations with Leeds United to sign 22-year-old winger Willy Gnonto before the summer transfer window closes.
- With just four days remaining in the transfer window, the Serie A side are exploring bringing the Italian international back to his homeland to play as a wide attacker.
- Gnonto has accumulated 147 appearances for Leeds United since completing his move from Swiss club FC Zurich in September 2022.
- The forward endured a difficult, injury-disrupted campaign last season, managing only four Premier League starts while being hindered by a calf injury.
- After impressing in pre-season as a right wing-back during a 1-1 friendly draw against Manchester United in Dublin, Gnonto suffered a hamstring injury that has kept him out of action since.
- Leeds United manager Daniel Farke confirmed on Friday that Gnonto was scheduled to resume training ahead of Sunday’s Premier League encounter with Brentford.
West Yorkshire (The Leeds Times) August 29, 2026 – Italian club Fiorentina are actively negotiating with Leeds United over a potential deal for winger Willy Gnonto, with only four days left before the summer transfer window shuts. As reported by Gianluca Di Marzio, Fiorentina are in talks with the Championship-promoted side regarding the 22-year-old attacker, exploring a move that would see the Italian international return to Serie A to feature in his preferred wide role.
Are Fiorentina closing in on Willy Gnonto’s signature?
As reported by Gianluca Di Marzio, Fiorentina have initiated discussions with Leeds United to assess the terms of a last-minute transfer before the deadline. The Italian reporter highlighted that the Florence-based club regard the 22-year-old forward as an ideal target to bolster their attacking options on the flank.
Gnonto, who joined Leeds United from FC Zurich in September 2022, has notched up 147 appearances in all competitions for the West Yorkshire side over his four-year tenure.
However, the international winger faced significant frustration during the previous campaign, managing just four Premier League starts as he struggled to secure regular playing time and dealt with a lingering calf problem.
What is the status of Gnonto’s recent fitness and form?
Despite his reduced role in the starting XI during the prior season, Gnonto showed promising signs of revival during the pre-season build-up.
As noted in local press reports, the Italian caught the eye of the coaching staff, notably coming on as a second-half substitute at right wing-back during Leeds United’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United in Dublin.
His progress was abruptly halted when he sustained a hamstring injury during that same fixture, forcing him onto the sidelines for the subsequent matches. He has not featured in competitive action since the Dublin encounter, spending the opening weeks of the season undergoing rehabilitation with the medical squad.
How does Daniel Farke plan to utilize the Italian international?
As reported by local journalists attending the press conference, manager Daniel Farke stated on Friday that Gnonto was set to return to first-team training that same day ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Brentford.
Addressing reporters at his pre-Brentford press conference, Farke discussed his tactical options and outlined his prospective plans for the attacker once fully integrated into squad rotation.
While Farke maintains that Gnonto remains part of his considerations when healthy, the formal approach from Serie A outfit Fiorentina adds substantial uncertainty to the player’s immediate future at Elland Road prior to the deadline.
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Background of the Development
The late transfer move by Fiorentina comes amidst a broader tactical restructuring at both clubs. Willy Gnonto originally arrived at Elland Road in September 2022 from FC Zurich as a high-potential youngster, quickly capturing headlines with his explosive acceleration and direct dribbling style.
Following Leeds United’s fluctuating form across the English football pyramid, Gnonto’s role in the squad underwent repeated changes under Daniel Farke.
Farke attempted to repurpose the natural winger into a right wing-back during pre-season fixtures to leverage his pace and work rate. Meanwhile, Fiorentina have been actively seeking direct wingers to rebuild their frontline before the summer window closes.
With Gnonto entering the final stages of his current development cycle in England and seeking consistent starting minutes to safeguard his international prospective status with Italy, negotiations between the two clubs have progressed rapidly in the final 96 hours of the window.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Leeds United Fans and the Squad
If Fiorentina complete the deal before the fast-approaching deadline, the departure will have a dual impact on Leeds United and its primary audience—the club’s supporters and matchday squad.
- Squad Depth and Tactical Flexibility: Losing Gnonto late in the transfer window leaves Daniel Farke with reduced cover on the wings and less tactical versatility. Having tested Gnonto at right wing-back, Farke would forfeit an dynamic option capable of altering matches from the bench or starting in multiple dynamic systems.
- Fan Sentiment and Board Expectations: For the Leeds United faithful, trading away a key fan favorite and established international could generate frustration unless the executive board immediately reinvests the recouped transfer funds. Supporters expect the club to maintain a squad deep enough to survive and compete comfortably in the top flight, making a late exit without a direct replacement a potential point of contention between the fanbase and management.
