Departing Leeds United man explains exit and makes La Liga comparison with Mel B evidence

Leeds United Championship title winner Josuha Guilavogui fell in love with the club and his team-mates but was the first to confirm an Elland Road exit this summer. He has explained why in an exclusive interview with the YEP.

Guilavogui arrived as an emergency signing in October 2024 amid an injury crisis for Daniel Farke. The German lost his captain and first choice defensive midfielder Ethan Ampadu to a serious knee injury. A couple of days later he lost Ampadu’s midfield partner and the squad’s only other defensive-minded central player Ilia Gruev, also to a serious knee injury. Though Farke went on record many times to explain why he was no fan of making free agent signings outside of the summer transfer window, he made it clear that if an exceptional case presented itself he would give it consideration.

Any player coming in would need to be an experienced leader who could accept a specific role in the supporting cast and not upset the apple cart. Step forward Guilavogui.

The Frenchman, with his 330 appearances in the Bundesliga and La Liga and seven international caps to boot, brought more than just experience to the table. He quickly became a ‘big brother’ to the dressing room. Several called him ‘uncle’ and Farke could rely on him to help lead the youngsters in the squad. He was only called upon 16 times in the Championship and spent just 57 minutes of regulation time on the pitch, but his impact was felt keenly by his team-mates and he became a cult hero among fans as Leeds won the title and promotion to the Premier League.