Latest news with #SamByram
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Leeds star insists Daniel Farke's side must aim to be 'the fittest team in the Premier League' in order to avoid immediate Championship return
Sam Byram has stressed that Leeds United must aim to be 'the fittest team in the Premier League ' if they are to have a chance of staying in the top-flight this season. Leeds have spent most of the first fortnight of pre-season at their Thorp Arch training base, before drawing 0-0 against Man Utd in a friendly in Stockholm on Saturday. Daniel Farke 's side now travel to Germany for a week, where they will play two friendlies behind closed doors as part of a warm-weather training camp. 'The intensity (in pre-season) has been a lot harder this year, which you'd expect coming back to prepare for the Premier League,' said Byram. 'There's obviously not as many games as there is in the Championship but for us, fitness is going to be huge. If we can be the fittest team in the league, then it can only help us. So it's something that everyone's been working really hard on - there's a lot of tired legs and tired bodies but we're through the second week and looking forward to the camp,' the Leeds defender added. Tactically, Byram insists that Farke's style will be similar to the possession-based football that saw Leeds win the Championship last season, with a record-breaking 100 points. 'It (the football) will be very similar to last season,' he said. 'The style of football we want to play - possession based, that's in our DNA and that's how we want to play. It's a huge step up and it's obviously a much more competitive league so there's obviously areas that you can't play the same as in the Championship but it's something we've been working on since day one,' added Byram. And with the last six promoted teams all going straight back down to the Championship, Byram stressed that he and his teammates are already aware of the challenge that lies ahead. The 31-year-old signed a new one-year deal with his boyhood club earlier this month. 'We're not under any illusion. We know how hard it is to stay in the Premier League,' said Byram. 'This season, we've got a lot more time to prepare for each game so to have for the most part, a full week to prepare will be very beneficial. Every single point matters and we'll do everything to get as many points as we can.' Leeds begin their return to the Premier League with Everton travelling to Elland Road on Monday August 18.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I'm confident in myself, my ability and my team-mates'
Defender Sam Byram says he is confident he can play a part in Leeds' effort to stay in the Premier League after signing a new one-year deal earlier this told BBC Radio Leeds: "Since signing two years ago, I'd like to think I've played my part in getting Leeds back into the league and I feel like I've been, for the most part, reliable when called upon."Obviously, the Premier League is a whole new beast as everyone knows, but I've had Premier League experience in the past - a few years ago now but I think the manager knows how I work and he knows me inside out. I was optimistic but in football nothing is ever guaranteed so to finally get it signed has been brilliant."I wouldn't have agreed to sign on if I didn't think I could contribute and still play a part."I'm not as young as I once was but you gain experience along the way and I might have lost an inch of sharpness, but you make up for it in positional play, organisation and all of those sorts of things."It has been five, maybe six, years since I last played in the Premier League. Until game one, or until I'm called upon, you can never say for certain - but I'm confident in myself, my ability and my team-mates around me for us to do a job."Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds
New York Times
09-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What will Gabriel Gudmundsson bring to Leeds? And is he the right left-back for Daniel Farke?
Leeds United have their fourth signing of the summer in the building. Gabriel Gudmundsson was quickly ushered into life at Thorp Arch with a staple of pre-season training on Tuesday: the bleep test. It was probably a good test of the new £10million ($13.6m) signing's ability to get up and down the pitch. The 26-year-old will be doing plenty of that as he appears to be the club's first-choice left-back for next season. Advertisement Junior Firpo left the club when his contract expired on June 30, while Sam Byram's new one-year deal was announced on Tuesday evening. Byram was primarily used in reserve last season in the Championship. It remains to be seen if Leeds go after another left-back option, but with goalkeepers, central midfielders, attacking midfielders, wingers and strikers still on their shortlist, their budget will only stretch so far. What have Leeds bought in Gudmundsson, then? The Athletic takes a look through his profile, statistics and clips to build a picture of the man Daniel Farke and the recruitment team wanted. The obvious unknown with Gudmundsson is how he will cope in the Premier League. There is a lot to like about him, but until we head towards the back end of 2025, the jury will be out on his ability at this level. However, his prime years are still ahead of him. He has 15 Sweden caps, 103 Ligue 1 appearances and a handful of Champions League outings to his name — proven experience in one of Europe's top-five leagues as well as the continent's elite club competition. His injury record is superb, too. According to Transfermarkt, Gudmundsson has not had any prolonged absences through injury since February 2023. Player availability has to be one of the main priorities for United's new signings. There's no use in investing in someone who cannot play. The biggest question mark that arises from Gudmundsson's stats is how impressive his attacking data can be without delivering goals and assists. When compared with other left-backs across the 'big five' leagues last season, Gudmundsson impressed when it came to successful take-ons (going past defenders), progressive passes received (taking in those longer passes down the left flank) and touches in the opposition area. However, in all competitions last term, the left-back delivered just two goals and one assist from 45 games. Last season, Leeds relied on Firpo as an attacking force — he provided four goals and 10 assists in the Championship. Farke's tactics served to get the best out of an ostensibly defensive player in the final third. Advertisement So, Gudmundsson's raw numbers do not match up — but it might not be that simple. Gudmundsson has been a useful asset for Lille, the man who develops the play before feeding the ultimate assister of his team's goal. From his playstyle wheel below, you can see that dribbling upfield is a big part of Gudmundsson's game. He ranks in the 89th percentile of all left-backs for 'carry progression' across the big five leagues (so only 11 per cent of left-backs moved the ball up the pitch more frequently). This shows how Gudmundsson has dragged Lille upfield, but his far smaller sections for 'creative threat' (27) and 'cross volume' (32) show he is not necessarily at the sharp end of the team's chance creation. He has that priceless ability to get up and down the field, even if he isn't making the final pass. During a clash with Rennes last season, there was an especially impressive move from Gudmundsson that underlined his ball-carrying ability and a knack of going past defenders. He receives the initial pass in a wide-left position on the halfway line. He drives past Albert Gronbaek, begins cutting inside, squeezes between the pressure of Azor Matusiwa and Lorenz Assignon, around Hans Hateboer's outstretched leg and by Glen Kamara before he meets a wall on the edge of the Rennes box. That's five players he evaded, from the halfway line to the box. A score of 78 for 'pass progression' in his wheel higlights Gudmundsson's inclination to move the ball forward fairly frequently, when compared with his peers. However, 68 for 'link-up play' shows he prefers playing shorter passes, perhaps playing one-twos with team-mates in those tight pockets of the final third. Lille visited Liverpool for a Champions League tie in January. Above, you can see Gudmundsson advancing to give Remy Cabella a short option on the left side. They exchange passes before Gudmundsson shows a turn of speed to cut inside and then out again to collect Cabella's return pass. The left-back has gone around Harvey Elliott and then outmuscled Conor Bradley to retain possession before a low cutback into the box. Advertisement Team-mate Hakon Haraldsson is found and his shot cannons off Kostas Tsimikas before Jonathan David then puts away what was Lille's equaliser on the night. A 'goal threat' of 73 in the playstyle wheel above is not a good score among other full-backs. The hard numbers would suggest Gudmundsson was more likely to score than assist for Lille. One of last season's two goals came in a league game against Nantes. Above, you can see a raking pass from Aissa Mandi (one of those progressive efforts Gudmundsson consistently made himself available for) to the Swede. Gudmundsson gathers, comes inside and then lays off one of the shorter, safer passes he has preferred for ball retention. Benjamin Andre then loops a longer ball out to Cabella on the right while Gudmundsson wanders into the box. Cabella's superb effort crashes off the crossbar, but Gudmundsson attacks the back post for a calm finish on the follow-up. Defensively, Gudmundsson ranked in the 85th percentile for front-foot defending, which shows he liked to stay touch tight and track runners last season. His 'one-v-one defending' mark of 70 shows he was pretty impressive in trying to stop dribblers attacking down the wings, too. His low 'aerial volume' number (nine), unlike fellow new faces Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw, shows Gudmundsson rarely competed for headers last season. For his age, experience (with the admission of none in the Premier League) and ability to get up and down the left flank, a fee of £10million has the potential to be superb business for Leeds. However, all opinions will have to be held until autumn turns into winter. The attacking output at the sharp end has been lacking from Gudmundsson, but there is potential there for Farke to work with. The left-back seems to have the engine and technical ability to be an outlet and carrier for the team. Advertisement Firpo in the Championship was verging on cheat-code status. It is asking a lot for Gudmundsson to replicate his attacking output in the top flight. Farke may be comfortable with the limited assists his new signing has previously produced. We are yet to see exactly what he wants from his full-backs in the brave new world ahead.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Something I'm very excited about - Byram signs new deal with Leeds
Leeds United defender Sam Byram is "over the moon" after signing a new one-year contract to extend his stay at Elland Road until the summer of 31-year-old, who came through the Leeds academy, played a key role in the club's promotion-winning campaign last season, making 39 appearances as Daniel Farke's side secured the Championship who rejoined United before the 2023-24 campaign, has now made over 200 appearances for his boyhood club since his debut in 2012. His versatility and experience were crucial last term, including a memorable goal in the win over Luton Town in November."I am over the moon to get this over the line and to be back in for day one of pre-season," Byram told club media., external"Obviously, it is a huge challenge ahead, but one that I am excited for. I am hopeful to add my experience from the past and do whatever I can for the club to help our ambitions for this year."It was a dream of mine to get promoted with Leeds, and then obviously to be around for the Premier League season is sort of that one step further. It is something I am very excited about."
New York Times
08-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Leeds United confident of signing Lille left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson
Leeds United are confident of signing Lille left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson in a deal worth £10million ($13.6m). If the deal is completed, the Sweden international will be the club's fourth acquisition of the summer, following Lukas Nmecha, Jaka Bijol, and Sebastiaan Bornauw. Gudmundsson flew to Leeds from Lille on Sunday, and news began to break on the continent of a completed deal on Monday evening. The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract with the newly-promoted Premier League outfit. The Athletic reported on June 18 that Gudmundsson, who has one year left on his Lille contract, was a target for Leeds. Lille did not respond to a request for comment. As it stands, Gudmundsson will be the club's first-choice left-back following the departure of Junior Firpo, whose contract ended on June 30. Talks are understood to be ongoing with Sam Byram, but he too, technically, became a free agent at the end of last month. Like all three of this summer's preceding arrivals, Gudmundsson is 26, but at 5ft 11in he does not have the same height. However, as a left-back, there will be less expectation for the Swede to win aerial battles. Advertisement Gudmundsson does not have any experience of English football, but he has amassed 103 appearances in Ligue 1 with Lille over the past four seasons. Previously, he played for Groningen in Eredivisie and Halmstad in his homeland. Across left-backs in Europe's top five leagues last season, Gudmundsson was among the most impressive for progressive carries up the field, successful take-ons in dribbling past opponents and progressive passes received, where he has offered an advanced outlet for longer passes. End products were harder to come by with two goals and zero assists from his 1,785 league minutes last season. Many members of United's squad returned to Thorp Arch on Monday for the beginning of pre-season. The club's first scheduled friendly takes place on July 19 in Stockholm, where they will face Manchester United
