Leeds United and the Art of Bargain Hunting: Ethan Ampadu's Value Soars 200%
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- Ethan Ampadu, yang dibeli Leeds United dari Chelsea seharga £7 juta pada 2023, kini dihargai £25 juta oleh Transfermarkt — kenaikan lebih dari 200%.
- Kapten asal Wales itu menjadi pilar utama lini belakang Leeds dengan catatan tekel dan intersepsi tertinggi di skuad musim lalu.
- Strategi transfer hemat Leeds menyoroti peluang bagi klub-klub Indonesia untuk mengembangkan pemain lokal alih-alih bergantung pada pembelian mahal.
Leeds United have proven that smart shopping in the transfer market can still yield big profits. Ethan Ampadu, signed from Chelsea for just £7 million in the summer of 2023, now has a market value of £25 million according to Transfermarkt — a jump of more than 200% in three years.
The 26-year-old has become team captain and the backbone of Leeds' defence. Last season, he led the club in tackles and interceptions, forming a solid wall alongside Anton Stach at the heart of the defence. Manager Daniel Farke even called him "our most important player" and stressed that Ampadu "deserves all the praise" coming his way.
Ampadu's success story is the fruit of Leeds' meticulous transfer approach. After promotion to the Premier League, the club spent only around £90 million — far less than Ipswich Town, who splashed out £190 million on new players. Leeds chose players already proven in Europe's top five leagues, and the result was an eighth-point finish above the relegation zone in the 2025/26 season.
Ampadu's success is not just about numbers. He is a real example of how a club with a limited budget can compete in an elite league through targeted recruitment. Leeds not only gained a quality player, but also an asset whose value keeps rising. If Ampadu continues to perform consistently, it is not impossible that he will be sold for a much higher price in the future.
"He is probably our most important player. He deserves all the praise he gets," said Daniel Farke, as quoted from his statement earlier this season.
For Indonesia, the model Leeds have applied offers a valuable lesson. Liga 1 clubs often spend big on foreign players who are no longer young, without thinking about long-term profit potential. In fact, with good scouting, Indonesian clubs could recruit talented young players from within the country or Southeast Asia at low prices, then develop them into high-value assets. This approach is not only financially beneficial, but also strengthens the foundation of national football.
Going forward, Leeds need to keep maintaining this strategy if they want to compete for a European spot. They have shown that money is not always the main determinant of success. The question is, will other clubs — including in Indonesia — start imitating this smart approach, or remain stuck in a pattern of big spending without careful planning?
