Jean-Mattéo Bahoya: The best project for me was Leeds

As fans eagerly refreshed social media and sat glued to sports news channels when the summer’s transfer window slammed shut, there was still work to be done behind the scenes in the Elland Road offices. The now-famous deal sheet had been submitted, allowing the time for the formalities of Jean-Mattéo Bahoya’s loan switch from Eintracht Frankfurt to be finalised.

Owing to the eleventh-hour nature of the deal, the highly rated forward remained in Germany on the evening, before starting the following morning as a Leeds United player. A short flight later, our seventh addition of an exhilarating window touched down in West Yorkshire and wasted no time in getting to know his new surroundings.

“It was really fast because it was the deadline but now I am good in my head so I can be 100 per cent focused on the pitch,” he laughed, sitting down in front of the LUTV cameras to reflect on a whirlwind 24 hours. “And of course, I am so excited. Every player wants to play in Premier League and the best project in the Premier League for me was Leeds.”

Racking up 78 appearances during his time at Deutsche Bank Park, the 21-year-old joins the Whites after an impressive season last time around in red and black. An opening day Bundesliga brace against Werder Bremen showed his clinical nature; first, a well-placed header nestled in the corner before a deft chip over the onrushing goalkeeper brought a second of the afternoon.

The winger, renowned for his blistering speed, isn’t just quick. Clocking in at a scintillating 37.16 km/h in a 2025 Bundesliga match, Bahoya blitzed the German top-flight’s record, just less than half a km/h slower than the pace of Usain Bolt’s World Record 100m run.

“Yes, I am the fastest,” Jean-Mattéo proudly added on that feat. “It is a good record. I was at 37 so, yes, we can say that I am fast! That is kilometres, of course. Miles it is impossible…”

Raw and explosive acceleration isn’t the only weapon in Jean-Mattéo’s arsenal; it is what he does with it that has haunted defences in Germany and European competition. In the previous campaigns it has also been seen, and that will now have the Elland Road crowd on the edges of their seats.

The attacker ranked 10th for completed dribbles in the Bundesliga last time around, having played considerably less minutes than the nine players above him. Statistically more successful in that department than anyone in the United squad, too, add the forward’s versatility into the mix and it is easy to see why so many clubs were vying for the 21-year-old’s signature.

“I prefer to play as left winger but I can play also right. I am fast, technical, I am good in front the goal so, yes, I have a good quality for this team and I am here to help the team. I need to join them and only help them. We just want to keep going this good season [2025/26] because we have a lot of good players so we have the quality to do a top season again.”

Last campaign, as well as impressing domestically with Frankfurt, Jean-Mattéo featured eight times in the UEFA Champions League, getting a taste of Premier League opposition with clashes against Liverpool and Tottenham as well as Spanish and Italian heavyweights Barcelona and Napoli.

Despite his young age, Bahoya’s experiences at the top of the game have accelerated his development enormously, something he hopes he can reap the rewards of as he takes the next step in his footballing journey.

Progressing through the youth ranks at boyhood team Angers and into the senior setup of the French club, in which he earned his professional debut as a 17-year-old, just 29 appearances across Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 collectively were enough to convince Eintracht to move for the starlet.

Now, after cementing himself as one of Europe’s most sought-after attackers, the winger would only take the next step if the move for him was the right one. When Leeds United came calling, it ticked every box.

“I feel really happy. It is a good step for me because it is a good club in Premier League with crazy fans and a top project. I am just happy to play with these players and I want to play a lot of games here because it is a good project.

“I know they won three times the England championship so it is a big club. I know the fans also. We heard a lot of good things about the fans and the atmosphere in the stadium and the club is in good development. This is why also I come here because I love the project and I just want to be here. A lot of things is good here.

“I spoke with the coach, he has top ideas. He watches football like me and we speak the same language, so it is the best spot for me. England is the best place for a footballer. It is so good because every team have a good player and it is the best championship in the world. I am just excited to play here.”

The Frenchman followed compatriot Melvin Bard in joining the Whites in the final hours of deadline day. At Elland Road, he also links up with former teammate Michael Zetterer. The duo shared the pitch 24 times together with Eintracht and despite not having been a Leeds player for a week yet, the goalkeeper was already playing his part behind the scenes.

“I played with him in Frankfurt. He is a good friend of mine and he helped me. He called me also, said to me a lot of good things about the club and the staff, so he is a good guy for me and like a big brother! I know also Melvin. We have a connection because we speak the same language. I play against him in France so I am happy to play with him. It is better when you know some players.”

Straight into training after the dramatic deadline day deal after landing in Leeds, it had been quite the 24 hours for our final signing of the summer. It was worth the wait though Jean-Mattéo admits, who is just as eager to meet the supporters as they are to see him in action.

“I am so excited because every player said to me the fans here, it is like crazy atmosphere so I just want to see. I hope soon!”