Report: Leeds United star set to leave the club with terms already agreed | OneFootball

Meslier exit edges closer as Besiktas talks advance

Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier is edging towards an Elland Road exit, with Besiktas making significant progress on personal terms and awaiting final clearance to complete the deal, according to TeamTalk.

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Meslier is out of contract in the summer and free to leave, and Leeds have already given permission for the Turkish club to sign him for a nominal fee. With the Super Lig window open until Friday 6 February, the expectation is that the situation will reach resolution within days.

Long Leeds journey reaches crossroads

Meslier’s Leeds story stretches back to August 2019, when he arrived on loan from Lorient during the Marcelo Bielsa era. He became first choice the following February after Kiko Casilla received an eight match suspension, and went on to make 215 appearances for the club, placing him among a select group of Leeds goalkeepers to reach that landmark.

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His tenure was never short on drama, but his status has shifted decisively under Daniel Farke. After falling out of favour last season, the arrival of Lucas Perri left Meslier third choice. He has featured only three times in Leeds matchday squads this campaign, a clear indicator of his standing.

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Besiktas window offers solution

TeamTalk report that discussions have accelerated after initial contact earlier in the week, with Turkish outlet Sabah claiming Besiktas are ‘eagerly awaiting’ approval from England to finalise the transfer. The remaining variable appears to be Meslier’s final decision on whether to accept the move.

There is context to Besiktas’ urgency. Sabah note that Meslier was their third choice option. Attempts to sign Perri from Leeds were unsuccessful, while an approach to Chelsea for Filip Jorgensen was blocked by BlueCo. That sequence has funnelled Besiktas firmly towards Meslier.

Pragmatism over sentiment

For Leeds, this is a pragmatic outcome. Allowing Meslier to leave now avoids losing him for nothing without a plan, while easing squad management ahead of a crucial period that includes a Friday night meeting with Nottingham Forest. It also closes a chapter that, while memorable, no longer aligns with the club’s direction.

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Meslier’s name is tied to some of Leed’s most vivid recent memories, both exhilarating and painful. Bielsa trusted him, fans backed him, and at times he carried the side through turbulent Premier League afternoons.

But football moves quickly. Under Farke, it has been clear for some time that Meslier is no longer central to the plan. Sitting as third choice, out of contract and effectively frozen out, helps nobody. Supporters recognise that sentiment cannot override structure.

The Besiktas move makes sense for all sides. Meslier gets a fresh start and regular football, Leeds tidy up a loose end and the dressing room hierarchy becomes cleaner. There is no bitterness among fans, more a sense of acceptance.

What matters now is focus. Leeds are chasing objectives that demand clarity and unity. Drawing a line under Meslier’s situation removes a distraction and reinforces that this squad is being shaped deliberately. Supporters will wish him well, but they are ready to move on, just as the club has already done.