Por qué Ao Tanaka es tan fundamental para el Leeds United de Farke.

15 de Septiembre de 2025 a las 11:48

Now in the Premier League following Leeds United's promotion, Japanese midfield maestro Ao Tanaka will look to translate his exceptional form from the Championship to the top flight.

 

Having been one of the standout performers in the second tier last term, where he rightfully earned a spot in the Team of the Year and took home Leeds’ Players' Player of the Year, his contribution will be instrumental towards his side's survival hopes.

 

Although Tanaka, who joined from Fortuna Dusseldorf in the summer of 2024 for a bargain £2.9 million, may not always receive the recognition he deserves, those within the club fully understand his crucial role.

 

"He is technically so outstanding he has to fix the watches of the referees. Tiger Tanaka can do everything. He is an unbelievable signing so far. Quality with and without the ball is outstanding. Not played in a top league yet. Delivers like this in a shirt so heavy is outstanding. Character is relaxed and laid back," Leeds manager Daniel Farke explained.

 

“He is happy to have his peace and pretends he is not capable of talking. He does not realise I am listening to him with his teammates, and he is very funny. Really cool guy. The best judgement is when you see the teammates and they have so much fun with him and celebrate with him.”

 

A key figure in Leeds' promotion campaign and consistently one of the first picked by Farke, the 26-year-old's been decisive in all phases.

 

A superb passer who’s remarkably composed on the ball, he’s been a pleasure to watch as he advances play with his diverse passing range, crafts brilliant opportunities in advanced zones, recycles possession intelligently while waiting for weaknesses to arise and effortlessly dribbles out of tight situations.

To touch further on his ball-carrying ability - which sees him glide past opponents with tidy footwork and power forward when afforded time - his calmness and underrated physicality make him highly resistant to pressure, frequently outfoxing defenders and creating the separation he needs to keep things moving.

 

Moreover, his thorough scanning warrants mention too, as it gives him a constantly updated picture of his surroundings, enabling him to make clear and informed decisions both before and after receiving possession.

 

Clever with his movement to create numerical and positional advantages, and awake to where his colleagues are situated to open up passing lanes, his spatial awareness and high football IQ are valuable weapons in helping Leeds beat the press to progress upfield efficiently.

A sharp reader of the game, quick to recognise danger and holding his own physically, his defensive work has been equally impressive, for he regularly chimes in with vital interventions, cuts off options with his nifty positioning and provides reliable support to his teammates.

Adapting swiftly to the demands of the English game, Tanaka has blended seamlessly into Leeds’ engine room to be a serious force to be reckoned with in all areas.

 

England and Arsenal star Declan Rice even heaped praise on Tanaka recently, stating: “The guy at Leeds, he's an unbelievable player. Is it Tanaka? Yeah, I've seen him play, he's a top player. Obviously the Championship gets shown on the TV all the time and Leeds are a massive club, so it's good to have them back in the Premier League, but I know he's been like their Player of the Season and when I watch him play he's a really good player, really energetic, really good on the ball.”

 

Considering his class and quality, it was no surprise several elite outfits were reportedly interested in signing him. However, with Tanaka thriving under Farke’s system at Leeds and him only a year into a four-year contract, he sensibly chose to remain.

 

Having won over the Elland Road faithful and secured his status as a genuine hero, the adulation directed at one of Leeds’ smartest buys was surely an extra incentive for him to stay.

 

Well aware of the challenge ahead to avoid the drop, Leeds will be counting on the masterful, multifaceted Tanaka, who can dictate and dominate offensively and defensively, to play a pivotal part in their bid for Premier League survival.

 

By Edward Stratmann