DONE DEAL;Leeds United agree terms and conditions with former player and announces his return…

The international break is in full flow following Leeds United’s draw against QPR on the weekend with 16 players on the books at Elland Road called up by their countries during the March break.

Joe Rodon, Dan James and Karl Darlow are with Wales while a handful of Leeds youngsters have been included in U21, U20 and U19 squads. Even some out on loan like Rasmus Kristensen have been called up.

Isaac Schmidt has won his first Switzerland call-up but Brenden Aaronson has been left at Elland Road by Mauricio Pochettino. The first round of games is yet to take place, but a Leeds player has won an award.

Indeed, Ilia Gruev has been announced as Bulgaria’s second-best player of the year behind PAOK star Kiril Despedov. It is the second time in two years that Gruev has got second, losing to Despedov last season.

Ilia Gruev posts on Instagram after being handed Bulgaria award

It might have come as a little bit of a shock for Gruev that he has secured second place given the Leeds midfielder spent the final three months of 2024 sidelined with a knee injury, picking up against Norwich.

Gruev is fit again but even not he is only being used as a rotational option by Daniel Farke, often playing the away games and Joe Rothwell coming in at home. Gruev posted on Instagram after winning second.

He said: “Thank you for the award and congrats to my fellow nominees! We’ll see us again next year.”

Burnley’s Jaidon Anthony among those to congratulate Ilia Gruev

Last summer saw Jaidon Anthony leave Leeds having played alongside Gruev and helped Leeds achieve a place in the play-off final. But the winger left after The Whites could not beat Southampton at Wembley.