Star said Leeds ‘made three offers’ for him and now seals £13m transfer

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Leeds United made ‘three offers’ for Noa Lang during his time at Club Brugge with the Netherlands international now joining Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven for £13 million instead. 

Noa Lang will have big shoes to fill at the Philips Stadium. Not literally, of course. But what the diminutive Xavi Simons lacked in size, he certainly made up for in stature. 

After a stellar campaign at PSV in 2022/23, Paris Saint-Germain are exercising the ‘buy-back clause’ in Simons’ contract. As such, Lang is not only PSV’s new record signing, he also moves to Eindhoven under pressure to emulate the influence of a player who finished as the league’s joint top scorer last term. 

“Noa is a player who fits our playing style and philosophy,” director Earnest Stewart says of the one-time Ajax whizzkid, who inherits Simons’ ‘number seven’ shirt at PSV. 

“(Lang’s) creativity, dribbling skills, and goal orientation make him a valuable addition to the existing squad. Being able to secure his transfer early in the preseason makes it even better.” 

Leeds United could have signed Noa Lang

The Belgian League’s 2021 Young Player of the Year; former Club Brugge schemer Lang returns to his native Netherlands looking to prove Ajax wrong, former boss Erik ten Hag turning his back on the 24-year-old after one disciplinary issue too many. 

In truth, Lang’s reputation has often preceded him.

According to The Athletic, many at Leeds United were frustrated that Marcelo Bielsa vetoed a deal to bring the 24-year-old to Elland Road after the Yorkshire giants had laid much of the groundwork for his arrival back in 2021. 

Bielsa – an old-school headmaster type who demands blood, sweat and tears from even his attacking players – reportedly had concerns over Lang’s ‘defensive qualities’. 

“(Leeds’ interest) was concrete, yes,” Lang would later tell HLN. “Leeds made three offers. We even negotiated. They flew to the Netherlands (to hold talks with me).”

The challenge now facing PSV – and new coach Peter Bosz – is whether they can harness Lang’s mercurial talents while also minimising the self-destructive streak that has long since cast doubt on his ability to fulfil that undoubted potential.