Kyle Newbould: Leeds United's 3-0 defeat at West Ham, key takeaways and summer focus | OneFootball

Leeds United ended the 2025/26 campaign with a 3-0 defeat at West Ham, their first loss in nine. Despite that, a 14th-place finish was confirmed and the away end stayed upbeat.

With several key injuries, Leeds struggled to threaten. After a nervy first half, Taty Castellanos struck, then Jarrod Bowen and Callum Wilson punished slack defending. West Ham were relegated anyway as Tottenham beat Everton, and, according to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, it felt a flat end to an otherwise excellent campaign.

Sam Byram’s likely farewell came in last weekend’s 1-0 win over Brighton and he did not feature here. Facundo Buonanotte’s 79th-minute cameo was only his third league outing in four months and he looks a near-certainty to depart. Joel Piroe, Daniel James and Willy Gnonto again had limited minutes, leaving futures uncertain, though they were part of the 100-point title winners.

Leeds were mercifully long safe in a season where 39 points sent West Ham down. A fixture once tipped as a relegation decider became a care-free occasion for the away end, even as Leeds turned in their poorest display in weeks.

Attention now turns to the summer. Fellow newly promoted Sunderland took seventh and Europa League by beating Chelsea, overshadowing Leeds’ over-achievement. There is no reason Leeds cannot aim for that next season, the mid-table pack is tight and they could even have finished above Sunderland had results fallen differently. 49ers Enterprises will need no reminding to show ambition in what should be a big few months.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk