Leeds United have cut Max Wöber’s contract short after the Austrian defender’s four-and-a-half-year spell at Elland Road ended in mutual termination. League standing: 13th in Premier League, 0 pts. Wöber, 28, joins Bundesliga side Schalke on a free transfer after triggering his exit clause.
What happened to Max Wöber at Leeds United?
Wöber arrived from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2023 for £10m on a four-and-a-half-year deal. His exit clause fired after Leeds’ relegation that spring, and he spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Back at Elland Road in 2024-25, injuries derailed his campaign: two knee surgeries after international duty in September left him with just nine appearances across all competitions.
Why did Leeds United let Wöber go now?
United viewed a loan to Werder Bremen for 2025-26 as the cleaner PSR move last summer. Wöber played only three games for Bremen, who chose not to make his loan permanent. By June 2025, the defender told reporters his Elland Road days were numbered. Twelve months later, Leeds and Wöber agreed to end his contract early rather than wait until next summer.
What’s next for Wöber and Leeds United?
Wöber heads to Schalke on a free transfer after 19 appearances in all competitions for Leeds. The Whites, now 13th in the Premier League with zero points from their opening fixtures, have cleared a wage and amortization line. Their focus shifts to the next transfer window as they chase reinforcements to steady a shaky start to the new campaign.
