String of impressive performances prove Sol Bamba is Leeds United’s signing of the season

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The Ivorian has been simply sensational so far for Leeds.

Heading into January, there could have been reasonable debate as to who Leeds United’s signing of the season was.

Marco Silvestri would have probably taken the title home but there would have been competition. Mirco Antenucci and Souleymane Doukara did well in patches, while Adryan’s talent still promises the world…

Post-January, however, there should no longer be any discussion. Sol Bamba, Leeds’ loan signing in defence, has already run away with proceedings just five games into the 30-year-old’s Elland Road career.

As Opta stats demonstrate below, Bamba averages more tackles, more interceptions and more clearances than any other Leeds defender this term.

He is beaten by Scott Wootton in terms of aerial prowess but only just, while, considering the experienced centre-back’s form, his averages are only likely to improve from here.

Bamba’s impact, however, goes far beyond mere stats – as impressive as his figures are.

Redfearn has hailed the 30-year-old’s intelligence in terms of his reading of the game and that much comes across when the central defender speaks, clearly a sophisticated yet down-to-earth student of the footballing world.

A vocal leader at the back (he has already captained the Yorkshire side), the Leeds loanee is also bilingual, allowing him to converse both with Giuseppe Bellusci and Marco Silvestri in Italian and the likes of Charlie Taylor and Liam Cooper in English.

Is it any wonder, then, that Leeds are barely conceding goals anymore? Indeed, after just five games, it’s already safe to say: Bamba is United’s signing of the season without a shadow of a doubt.