Transfers from Leeds Utd: The sporting director declares his intention to sign the £12.9 million loan star as a permanent replacement

Transfers from Leeds Utd: The sporting director declares his intention to sign the £12.9 million loan star as a permanent replacement

Following a sporting director’s announcement that he wanted to recruit the player to a permanent contract, Leeds United’s on-loan defender Robin Koch appears to have found a permanent home.

The 27-year-old left Elland Road over the summer to join Eintracht Frankfurt on an initial season-long loan before returning to his native country. Koch had previously joined Leeds at the beginning of their Premier League journey, moving there in the summer of 2020 in a £12.9 million deal from Freiburg.

Koch had a difficult first couple of seasons due to injuries, but he went on to make 39 appearances across all competitions in 2022–23. But given that Leeds had a difficult season and had gone through four managers, including interim ones, it was not shocking to see the team lose.

In fact, Koch took use of a provision in his contract to leave Elland Road on loan, making him one of the first players out the door during the summer.

And after Evan Ndicka left on a free transfer to Roma, Frankfurt, who was looking for a replacement for him, immediately snatched up the eight-time German international.

Koch has proven to be a huge success for Frankfurt since relocating to Germany. He has played four times in the Bundesliga and has so far made two appearances in the Europa Conference League, always being a constant in the middle of their defense.

 

Only four teams are unbeaten in the Bundesliga this season, and Dino Toppmoller’s team is one of them. They are currently ninth in the standings, having won one and drawn three of their games.

In that time, Koch has only given up three goals, and his performances have already received praise.

Phil Hay selects a summer acquisition for Leeds who has truly pleased him; Farke executed a fantastic transfer.

Robin Koch, a permanent signing from Leeds, is desired by Frankfurt.
Markus Krosche, the club’s sporting director, has since stated that he would like to make his transfer there permanent.

Krosche claims that Frankfurt have a “clear plan” to “keep Koch for the long term” and after his one-year loan agreement expires, according to SportBild.

To that purpose, negotiations for a long-term contract are anticipated to start with Leeds in the coming year.

Lothar Matthaus, a legend in Germany, is likewise impressed and predicted Koch would return to the country.