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Leeds have admitted they were set to fail Premier League financial regulations if they did not sell defender Pascal Struijk to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The centre-back completed a £20m move on 30 June – the last day of the financial year and potentially saving Leeds from suffering a points penalty. They are now confident they will pass PSR.
The Yorkshire club needed to sell someone to reduce their losses having spent more than £100m on new signings last summer as they built a squad to stay up after winning promotion.
Leeds, who bought players including Anton Stach, Lukas Nmecha, Noah Okafor, Sean Longstaff, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Lucas Perri, Jaka Bijol, James Justin and Sebastiaan Bornauw, argued their strategy worked as they lost only five of their last 25 league games to finish eight points ahead of relegated West Ham.
Struijk had been offered an improved contract at Elland Road but the 26-year-old opted to move on and has been signed by Brighton, who were looking for defensive reinforcements after selling centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham for £52m.
Leeds said in a statement: “As was communicated at the end of the 2025-2026 season by chairman Paraag Marathe, it was explained how there would be both incomings and outgoings over the course of the current transfer window.
“Last summer, the decision was taken to keep all key players at Elland Road, to give the club the best possible chance of Premier League survival, with the expectation that player sales would be needed to remain PSR (Profit & Sustainability Rules) compliant over a three-year accounting window ending 30th June 2026.
Pascal Struijk turned down a contract extension with Leeds ahead of his move to Brighton (Getty)
“The club’s higher than expected 14th-place finish and run to the Emirates FA Cup semi-final vindicated this decision, with the increased income and single sale of Struijk ensuring the club remains within PSR limits.”
Leeds are trying to strengthen their squad with Harry Wilson set to join on a free transfer from Fulham and Julian Brandt, who is leaving Borussia Dortmund, also a target.