Leeds United is back in the Premier League – and intends to stay there.
That, at least, is what their activity in the transfer market suggests, with no fewer than six signings already confirmed. A seventh, Lucas Perri, is expected to be announced in the coming hours. Reportedly on the verge of signing with the Peacocks, the Brazilian goalkeeper will leave Olympique Lyonnais to join the North of England.
A sizeable reinforcement — literally — in a position that, already stacked with Illan Meslier, Karl Darlow and Alex Cairns, is not lacking in depth. But Perri’s arrival could well shake things up, especially as the identity of the number one goalkeeper no longer seems as certain as it did a few months ago. A role that the Auriverde international now seems fully ready to take on.
At OL, where he was hotly anticipated, Perri demonstrated that he had what it takes. Recruited in January 2024 to prepare for the gradual transition from Anthony Lopes, a key figure at the club for over a decade, the Valinhos native definitively took up the mantle six months later. And his performances quickly won over the Rhône supporters.
So, what can Leeds United expect?
A 6ft5in (1.97m) goalkeeper who stands out in particular for his speed on the ground. He made good use of this ability on numerous occasions throughout the season, making many spectacular saves to support a defence that was often put under pressure in both Ligue 1 and the Europa League. In the French top flight, he was the sixth goalkeeper to have made the most saves in the league (116).
Perri was also seventh in terms of save percentage (74.4%) and third to have recorded the most clean sheets (10). These remarkable statistics even earned him the title of “best goalkeeper in the world” from his coach, Paulo Fonseca, last March.
However, the Brazilian does have his limits. Or rather, areas for improvement, all of which are clearly identifiable. Starting with his commanding presence in the air (which, let’s agree, is somewhat paradoxical given his physique), particularly from set pieces. His passing game has also been regularly criticised, as it has often been inaccurate and even dangerous for his team.
That said, if OL finally managed to secure a place in the Europa League, Perri played no small part in it. At 27, the Brazilian now seems ready to conquer the Premier League, where his first spell, at the beginning of 2019 with Crystal Palace, was anything but successful (he never played for the Eagles).
Is this enough to fuel a secret desire for revenge? Perhaps. At the very least, it provides a certain narrative.
