Ao Tanaka makes transfer exit admission and sends message to Leeds United faithful

Ao Tanaka Reflects on Promotion Push and Premier League Ambitions with Leeds United

Ao Tanaka has admitted that a move to the Premier League may have been possible last season even if Leeds United had failed to win promotion—but emphasized that his ultimate goal was always to reach the top flight with the club.

The 27-year-old midfielder was one of the standout performers in the Championship last season. His impressive displays earned him a place in the division’s Team of the Year, along with two individual accolades at Leeds’ end-of-season awards.

Signed from Fortuna Düsseldorf for just £3 million, Tanaka proved to be one of the best value signings of the summer. He featured in 43 Championship matches—his highest number of appearances in a single season—scoring five goals and providing two assists. Over the course of the campaign, he became a fan favorite thanks to his tireless work rate and committed performances.

In a recently published interview with GOAL Japan, conducted before the current season began, Tanaka opened up about the pressure he felt during Leeds’ tense promotion battle.

“Yes, there was pressure,” he admitted. “Of course, there was talk that if I kept performing well, I could move up even if we didn’t get promoted. But I knew transfers aren’t easy, so I was determined to get promoted with Leeds.”

Tanaka’s form slightly dipped late in the season, and a costly turnover led to Luton Town’s equalizer in a 1-1 draw in April—a result that temporarily dropped Leeds to third place. However, a key win against Middlesbrough shortly afterward helped the club reclaim their spot in the top two.

Tanaka was visibly emotional after that victory at the Riverside Stadium, later revealing just how overwhelming the final weeks of the season were for him.

“The last two months were incredibly difficult,” he said. “Every week, I was thinking, ‘I don’t want to play.’ Because if I played and we dropped points, I’d feel responsible. I was so nervous—I just kept thinking, ‘Please, just give us three points.’

“It wasn’t like a Championship ‘race’—it felt like ‘heaven or hell.’ If we finished third and didn’t go up, it would’ve felt the same as finishing 18th. But if we made it, we’d be in the Premier League—the biggest stage in world football.”

Tanaka spoke passionately about what it meant to represent Leeds, acknowledging he didn’t fully grasp the size of the club until he arrived.

“I didn’t understand it before I came—the history, the atmosphere of the stadium—but once I was here, I realized: this is a club that belongs in the Premier League,” he said. “You don’t often get the chance to play for a club with this kind of tradition. It was my first time, and I felt a real sense of duty and responsibility.”

He added: “Even finishing second or third makes a huge difference. I don’t want to go through that level of tension again—and honestly, I don’t think I ever will.”

When asked about the support he receives from the fans, Tanaka expressed heartfelt gratitude.

“I really feel the love from the team and the supporters,” he said. “Sometimes I wonder why. Maybe it’s because there’s no one else like me. And I fight really hard! (laughs)

“I feel it on the pitch—especially when they cheer when I get the ball. When the starting lineup is announced and I hear my name cheered, it makes me so happy.”