Illan Meslier will leave Leeds United after 215 appearances across seven seasons at Elland Road.The 26-year-old’s contract will expire on June 30 and he will be free to search for his next club, following a season in which he failed to make any first-team appearances and was named as a substitute on just five occasions.Meslier had been United’s undisputed No 1 in each of the previous five campaigns, but his errors became too frequent for head coach Daniel Farke.The goalkeeper was at fault for several key goals during that Championship title run in 2024-25. His final appearance for Leeds proved to be a 2-2 draw with Swansea City in March 2025, when it was clear he should have dealt better with each of the opposition’s goals.Leeds first recruited the Frenchman in August 2019 as a loanee from Lorient. He was Kiko Casilla’s deputy until February 2020, when the Spaniard was suspended for racially abusing Charlton Athletic’s Jonathan Leko.
After providing a steady presence between the sticks in the final eight matches of the Covid-delayed 2019-20 campaign, Meslier remained first choice until those aforementioned Swansea errors.The contracts of Karl Darlow and Alex Cairns are also due to expire this month, though Leeds are understood to be keen to retain them. Lucas Perri is the only senior goalkeeper currently contracted for next term.Meslier will be fondly remembered, but exit inevitableThis news comes as no surprise. After failing to figure in any way last season, Leeds would always cut ties with Meslier this summer.It’s what’s best for all parties. There is undoubtedly a quality goalkeeper in Meslier, but it’s been a long time since Leeds supporters have consistently seen it.A fresh start for him, hopefully away from too glaring a spotlight, will do him the world of good. He was a very safe pair of hands when he first came in as a teenager in 2019-20, impressing away at Arsenal in the FA Cup.He got his opportunity in the following season and was a star performer as Leeds finished ninth in the Premier League. In the summer of 2021, retaining him with a new deal was seen as a triumph because of how well he had played.Sadly, from 2021-22 onwards, Meslier’s decline began. He was one of many who struggled under the pressure that opposition teams put on Leeds.His confidence took a battering across each of those seasons of struggle in the top flight. The expectation was Meslier may depart after relegation in 2023, but he remained and played his part in those promotion pushes without ever fully eradicating his mistakes.Meslier was only involved in five matchday squads last season, but remained a good character behind the scenes and a key pillar of the goalkeeping department. He made his mark with Leeds and will be fondly remembered, with time, by the fanbase.Jun 10, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
