Leeds United wants to avoid the recent fate of all Premier League newcomers and is relying on German experience to do so. Sebastian Bornauw is the next former Wolfsburg player to join Daniel Farke’s team.
One year before his contract expires, Sebastiaan Bornauw is leaving VfL Wolfsburg and taking the plunge into the Premier League. The 26-year-old center back is moving to newly promoted Leeds United, who are paying a transfer fee of six million euros.
Bornauw joined the Wolves from 1. FC Köln in 2021, but saw less and less action in each of his four seasons: after 27 and 26 Bundesliga appearances in his first two seasons, he made only 20 and 15 appearances in his last two. In 2024/25, the 6-foot-3 giant was repeatedly set back by injuries. He made a total of 96 competitive appearances for VfL, including three in the Champions League, scoring four goals.
“Seb has always conducted himself professionally and in the best interests of the team during his time at VfL. We would like to thank him for his commitment and wish him all the best for his future in England, both professionally and personally,” said sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz.
The Belgian, who made a total of four international appearances between 2020 and 2022, will now help Championship champions Leeds secure their place in the Premier League, something no newly promoted team has achieved in the past two seasons. Bornauw has signed with Leeds until 2029.
Quick reunion with Nmecha
Coach Daniel Farke, himself a former coach in Mönchengladbach, among other places, is also banking on German experience, which all of the summer signings have so far been able to demonstrate: Before Bornauw, Leeds had already signed his Wolfsburg teammate Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer and former Hannover player Jaka Bijol (Udinese Calcio) for a reported €18 million.