A former Manchester United talent is set to make a switch to Pennines rivals Leeds United, after a spell in Spain.
Largie Ramazani was part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s very experimental Europa League side that took on Astana in Kazakhstan in 2019.
Ramazani was a late substitute, making his one and only Manchester United appearance. He became one of six Belgian players to represent United. After the season was later shut down, he decided to leave as a free agent in 2020.
United had offered Ramazani a new deal, yet he was tempted by the chance to carve his own path at Spanish side Almeria, who offered him a five-year contract.
Largie Ramazani now set for Leeds
Largie Ramazani is now into the final year of the long-term deal he signed with Almeria, and now the Spanish side are cashing in.
Fabrizio Romano reports Leeds are set to pay £10 million for Ramazani, a decent price from the Spanish side’s perspective considering his expiring deal.
Ramazani, a former Charlton Athletic youth product, will join Dan James at Leeds, a player he trained alongside at Carrington.
Ramazani had previously been linked with moves to Everton and Crystal Palace, and now 23, he gets a second crack at English football, this time in the Championship.
Largie Ramazani’s spell in Spain
Ramazani began in Almeria’s B team, where he made an instant impression by scoring a goal from his own half.
He soon made his first team debut and played a part in them winning promotion to La Liga. During his time at the club he hit headlines by scoring against Real Madrid twice, including on his top flight debut.
The most recent goal saw him stun Real at the Bernabeu with a goal after 38 seconds. And also last season he managed to provide a hat-trick of assists in just five minutes against Granada.
Almeria were relegated last season despite his efforts, and he scored in their opening game of 2024/25, but is now set to leave.
Ramazani has played an impressive 128 games for Almeria since leaving Manchester United, scoring 22 goals.
Ramazani price proves Ineos’ current strategy
Largie Ramazani is an interesting case, because his current situation is precisely what Manchester United investors Ineos want to avoid.
Ramazani is a talented prospect, this was clear during his time in the academy, and United lost him for nothing. Now he’s a £10 million player, and United aren’t getting a cut.
Ineos are attempting to do things a little differently, by proactively selling young talent, while retaining a sell-on clause in their contracts.
This has happened with Alvaro Fernandez, Matej Kovar, and over the past 24 hours, Facundo Pellistri. It’s also heading that way for Maxi Oyedele, while there is even a sell-on clause in Mason Greenwood’s deal.
Taking Greenwood out the equation as that’s a different issue entirely, Kovar, Pellistri, Fernandez, and Oyedele are talents who either didn’t have a pathway, or United felt they were not quite elite quality – yet are clearly strong enough to have good careers in the game.
They are now developing elsewhere, just like Ramazani has, and could land big money moves in the future, evidenced by the Belgian’s £10 million move to Leeds.
The difference for Ineos and United is that if Fernandez or Oyedele earn a similar move in a few years time, the Red Devils will get a big financial cut of the deal, which is just smart business.
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