(Credit: Manh Tung)
Wed 23 July 2025 9:40, UK
Leeds United have confirmed the signing of Anton Stach from Hoffenheim.
The German midfielder joined the West Yorkshire outfit for a reported fee of around £17.3million for the 26-year-old.
The Whites were initially linked with Habib Diarra earlier in the window, but he ultimately joined relegation-battling rivals Sunderland in a deal worth around £30million.
Much was made of how Leeds reportedly missed out on a transfer target to a direct rival, particularly from those in the north east.
However, at MOT Leeds News, we break down why Leeds have signed the superior midfielder for a fraction of the cost.
Daniel Farke will be happy with his latest piece of business. (Credit: Imago)Player Profiles
Stach is the more experienced and versatile of the two players, with four seasons of Bundesliga experience under his belt.
Whilst Diarra is five years younger and potentially could develop into a more promising player in the future, Leeds are focused on the here and now.
Stach brings greater versatility to Farke’s squad [Sofascore]2024/25 league stat comparison
Ligue 1 has proved to be a breeding ground for young talent like Diarra, but in Stach, Leeds have got a more defensively responsible player who has proven his talents in a higher-quality league.
Stach is clearly the better defensive midfielder based on the stats.
That is highlighted by more interceptions, tackles, clearances, and a higher number of ground duels won on average for Stach.
Overall style of play
Whilst Sunderland fans may argue that Stach and Diarra are different types of players, they both play in midfield, and both can play defensively, making the comparisons justified.
Whilst Diarra is coming off a more impressive season in terms of his attacking output, with four goals and five domestic assists compared to Stach’s one goal and two assists, the German is no slouch in this area.
Throughout his career, Stach has netted 26 times and even managed to score in the Europa League against eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur.
Whilst Diarra may be more of a box-to-box midfielder, the 49ers clearly feel the defensive solidity Stach provides is more needed within Farke’s squad.
Credit: Davey_Ennis_1 on X
Key insights
Stach is by far the better defensive midfielder and also progresses the ball better than Diarra: The towering German will offer more of a physical presence to the Whites’ midfield, winning the ball back before progressing it forward.
Diarra is the more creative player: Diarra boasts better creative stats than Stach and carries the ball better, making him a more mobile and athletic option in the centre of the park.
Leeds will be hopeful that new addition Sean Longstaff can provide the athleticism and legs in midfield that Diarra does to complement the immense defensive output of Stach.
Either way, both sides will likely be defending more than they are attacking.
Longstaff offers a more box-to-box presence in the Leeds midfield(Credit: Imago)Stach gives Farke more options
Given Leeds’ current midfield department, Farke has a variety of different combinations.
In their pre-season friendly against Manchester United, Leeds lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, making this more defensive approach to the Premier League more suited to Stach’s qualities.
Stach may also partner with Ethan Ampadu as United now have the option of playing with two holding midfielders, with Ao Tanaka allowed to venture forward more than he did last season.
For a smaller price to Diarra, Leeds have secured a defensive midfielder in Stach, who boasts some of the best defensive stats in Europe, whilst also bringing in Longstaff, who is a more athletic option who has a wealth of Premier League experience.
🇩🇪⚪️ Anton Stach (Hoffenheim → Leeds United)
🎖️ 98th percentile for duels won %
🎖️ 98th percentile for possessions won
🎖️ 88th percentile for forward passes completed
🎖️ 88th percentile for progressive passes completed📊 vs Bundesliga Midfielders
◎ Duels won % — 1st
◎… pic.twitter.com/wdAniZXpQH— DataMB (@DataMB_) July 21, 2025
View Tweet
Leeds are signing players in their prime, ready to contribute immediately to their fight against relegation as opposed to younger players who, whilst they may have a higher ceiling, are more of a gamble.
Sign up for the MOT Leeds News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking Leeds United news sent straight to your phone.
Related Posts