Kyle Newbould: Leeds end with 3-0 loss at West Ham and summer questions | OneFootball

Leeds United ended their 2025/26 campaign with a 3-0 defeat at West Ham, their first loss in nine, though a 14th-place finish was already secure. Second-half strikes from Taty Castellanos, Jarrod Bowen and Callum Wilson decided it, and despite winning the hosts were relegated after Tottenham Hotspur beat Everton.

Hit by a raft of injuries, Leeds struggled to impose themselves in attack after a tense first half. yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk notes it was a flat close to an otherwise buoyant season, even as the away end stayed upbeat.

Sam Byram’s likely farewell came a week earlier in the 1-0 win over Brighton, and he remained unused against his former club. A near-certainty is Facundo Buonanotte, whose 79th-minute introduction amounted to only his third league appearance in an underwhelming four months at Leeds. Joel Piroe replaced Ao Tanaka at the same time and, given sparse minutes, it is hard to see him in next season’s plans.

Daniel James and Willy Gnonto each got 20 minutes and might also feel uncertain about their futures. If this proves the end, Piroe, James and Gnonto will still be linked to that 100-point, Championship title-winning group.

The relief was that survival was never at stake. Leeds were well short of recent levels, probably better suited to a dead rubber, and West Ham were eventually good value for the points, yet the visitors could enjoy their day and reflect on the broader progress.

Attention now turns to the summer. Newly-promoted Sunderland finished seventh and took a Europa League place by beating Chelsea, overshadowing Leeds’ over-achievement, and the mid-table pack is tight enough that the Whites could even have finished above them had results flipped. 49ers Enterprises cannot afford to sit still, with Farke already clear that ambition is needed, and Sunday underlined that.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk