Facundo Buonanotte’s season stalls after two loans as Wembley reunion looms | OneFootball

Facundo Buonanotte approaches Leeds United’s FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea likely on the margins, the latest marker of a season that has drifted.

According to NY Times, the 21-year-old Brighton playmaker spent the first half on loan at Chelsea and is now at Leeds, but both moves have misfired. He has been unused or omitted for nine straight games since going off at half-time of his first Leeds start at Birmingham City in February, a tie they won 5-3 on penalties after 1-1.

Joel Piroe has been preferred for late cameos, and Buonanotte’s Leeds involvement totals 26 minutes across two Premier League appearances in January.

At Chelsea he made eight appearances in all competitions with one goal and two assists, yet only 45 Premier League minutes, and he was left out of the Champions League squad after arriving.

Leeds had a loan arranged last summer for a left-footed right-sider, but he chose Chelsea once their Xavi Simons pursuit faded. Inside Brighton it was felt Leeds would have suited him better. His 2024-25 loan at Leicester brought 31 Premier League games, 14 starts, and six goals with three assists in 35 overall.

Signed in January 2023 for nearly £10million, he scored on his full Premier League debut for Brighton, then became a regular under Roberto De Zerbi in 2023-24 with four goals and one assist in 36 of 50 matches.

Contracted to 2028 and now homegrown, he is also subject to Chelsea’s matching rights on bids this summer.

Source: NY Times