Leeds United turn to Igor Paixão after Brandt move stalls

Leeds United have a clear need to replace the attacking spark they hoped to secure with Julian Brandt, whose move to Ajax left a gap in the club’s forward line. The English side have therefore turned their attention to Brazilian winger Igor Paixão as a potential solution.

Leeds’ pursuit of Brandt collapsed after the German midfielder, who was a free agent after leaving Borussia Dortmund, completed a transfer to Ajax. The unexpected signing forced the club to accelerate its search for alternative offensive options.

Among the names resurfacing on Leeds’ shortlist is Igor Paixão, a player highlighted by journalist Graham Smyth of the Yorkshire Evening Post. The club had already compiled a list of targets in case Brandt chose another destination, and Paixão now features prominently.

Leeds United’s interest in Paixão is not new; last summer the club examined a proposal worth roughly £28 million. At the time, the 26‑year‑old winger opted to leave Feyenoord for Olympique de Marseille after a season in the Netherlands that saw him directly involved in 34 goals.

In his first campaign in France, Paixão recorded 12 goals and between six and seven assists, depending on the competition counted. Despite the positive output, Marseille’s financial restructuring under UEFA spending rules has made the striker a negotiable asset.

Reports from MOT Leeds News indicate that Olympique de Marseille is prepared to discuss the sale of Paixão, opening a realistic pathway for Leeds to act. To date, Leeds have not made an official approach to the player’s representatives, and any deal would hinge on movements involving other targets and possible squad exits under manager Daniel Farke.

The club has already added Harry Wilson on a free transfer and secured Tarik Muharemovic, yet the hierarchy believes further quality and depth are required for a competitive Premier League campaign. Should a deal materialise, Paixão would compete for wing positions and share responsibilities with Noah Okafor, who has been monitored due to recent injury concerns.

The original Portuguese headline contains the words “De”, “Na”, and “Al”, and the name appears both as Igor Paixão and as the HTML‑encoded token Paixão, confirming the linguistic elements present in the source.