Leeds United will reportedly look to sign 27-year-old Dutch defender Danilho Doekhi from Bundesliga club Union Berlin in the winter transfer window.
According to a report by Sky Sports journalists Zinny Boswell and Lyall Thomas, Danilho Doekhi is the subject of interest from Leeds United. The Whites are keen on reinforcing their defensive unit by signing a centre-back in the winter transfer window. So, the 27-year-old Union Berlin centre-back has emerged as a target for the West Yorkshire outfit.
How has Danilho Doekhi fared at Union Berlin?
Danilho Doekhi has been one of the most underrated defenders in the Bundesliga since joining Union Berlin from Vitesse Arnhem in July 2022. A native of Rotterdam, the Dutchman spent his formative years in his homeland, passing through the academies at XerxesDZB and Excelsior Rotterdam before graduating from the youth division at Ajax.
The 27-year-old first rose in prominence at Vitesse Arnhem before becoming a household name during his spell with Union Berlin. Doekhi has made over 100 appearances thus far for Union Berlin while chipping in with 15 goals and two assists. The player’s exploits at the back have helped the club become a mainstay in the Bundesliga.
Meanwhile, the Dutch defender’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs across Europe. A move to the Premier League might be on the cards before the winter transfer window shuts down, with Leeds United among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.
Premier League move on the horizon?
Leeds United’s interest in Danilho Doekhi is understandable. The Whites are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the winter transfer window, as Joe Rodon has sustained an ankle injury that will keep him in the treatment room for the foreseeable future. Additionally, Sebastiaan Bornauw’s long-term future is uncertain amid his links with Bundesliga club FC Koln.
Several candidates, including Axel Disasi, have thus emerged on Leeds United’s radar, with Doekhi also a viable target. However, a January deal is not straightforward, as while the West Yorkshire outfit’s recruitment team has looked at the 27-year-old Dutchman, the move “has not progressed any further at this stage”.
So, it will be interesting to see if Doekhi becomes a top target for Leeds United in the coming weeks as the 2024/25 EFL Championship winners sift through their options. Nevertheless, the Dutch defender is an option worth considering for the winter transfer window.