Stefan Borson: Leeds to spend 'hundreds of millions' after new reveal

20/04/2025 12:01

Leeds United are on course for a return to the Premier League heading into the final few games of the season. 

Daniel Farke's side currently sit top of the Championship table on goal difference over Burnley, but they are five points clear of third-place Sheffield United with three games left to play. 

Leeds are set to put forward plans to boost Elland Road's capacity from 37,890 to 56,500, with a formal planning application to be submitted soon.

A report due to go before city councillors later this month said 30 acres of brownfield publicly-owned land would be developed, allowing the stadium to become a “thriving 365-day-a-year destination”. 

It said if planning permission was granted, construction work could start on the West Stand “in the next 12 months”, while work on the North Stand would then begin as a “second phase of redevelopment”.

Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider the development would likely cost Leeds hundreds of millions of pounds to complete.

It would make Elland Road the seventh-largest stadium in England. 

Leeds set for financial boost after stadium update

Borson insisted Leeds could dramatically increase their matchday revenue if they add nearly 20,000 extra seats.

He told Football Insider: "I don’t know how much of a new build it is versus just sticking in a relatively cheap new stand.

"They have certainly got the space around the ground to be able to do it. I would think that the Leeds City Council would be very supportive of that development.

"It is a big increase on the current capacity and would make a very material difference to their revenue if they can fill those seats, certainly if they’re back in the Premier League, so it’s a no-brainer. 

"I wouldn’t say it would be cheap, but if it can be done in a cost-effective way, all of these sorts of developments are getting more and more expensive.

"You see what’s happening to the global economy, to the cost of raw materials. Inflation-wise, interest rates are stubbornly high to pay for these things. 

"It’s probably not going to be at the cheap end, but it’s going to make a material difference if they can get that built. It’s not one of these £1-2billion new stadiums.

"This is about a cost-effective stand with 20,000 seats that will have a relatively quick payback, but it’s not what it was.

"I remember when Middlesbrough built their entire stadium, I think it cost about £25million.

"We are not in that world anymore, so these developments are still hundreds of millions of pounds to build those 20,000 seats." 

Leeds transfer priority revealed after stunning twist

Football Insider revealed on 13 April Leeds are prioritising signing a striker as they don't believe Patrick Bamford or Joel Piroe are of the required standard.

Piroe is Leeds' top scorer this season with 15 goals, but doubts linger at Elland Road over his ability to make the step up to the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Bamford has long been considered surplus to requirements and will be allowed to explore his options this summer.

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The post Stefan Borson: Leeds to spend 'hundreds of millions' after new reveal appeared first on Football Insider.