Leeds United Star Played Role In Midfielder’s Anderlecht Move | OneFootball

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Leeds United defender Sebastiaan Bornauw played a role in his former team-mate Lukas Ambros agreeing to move to Belgian giants Anderlecht.

Last summer, Bornauw, 27, swapped Wolfsburg for Elland Road, signing a four-year contract, but his first season in Yorkshire did not unfold as he would have hoped.

Before his spell at Wolfsburg, the centre-back also represented 1.FC Koln in the Bundesliga, racking up 140 league appearances across his time with the two German clubs.

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His professional journey began at Anderlecht, having joined the academy in 2009 before progressing through the ranks to make his senior debut in the Belgian Pro League in 2018.

Bornauw’s former Wolfsburg team-mate, Ambros completed his switch to Anderlecht last month, putting pen to paper on a deal until 2030 with the option of a further year.

According to Belgian outlet Anderlecht Online, the Czech midfielder revealed he spoke to Bornauw before making the move, with the Leeds defender encouraging him to join Anderlecht.

The Belgian giants ended last season in fourth place and remain in contention to qualify for the Europa League league phase, offering the prospect of European football this campaign.

Bornauw, meanwhile, heads into the new season after Leeds United’s 14th-place finish, with only domestic competitions on the agenda.

Since arriving at Elland Road last July, the Belgian has managed just 12 Premier League appearances for the Whites, starting only five of those matches, and even pushed for an exit during the winter transfer window.

Although Daniel Farke has previously praised him as a top-class player because of his versatility and adaptability, the defender is not ruling out a move away, with a return to the Bundesliga remaining a possibility amid interest from Hamburg.

With Tarik Muharemovic now through the door and Leeds investing significantly in the defender, forcing his way into the starting lineup on a consistent basis appears an uphill battle.

It remains to be seen whether Bornauw can be persuaded to stay at Elland Road or whether the pursuit of regular first-team football ultimately leads him towards the exit.