Samu Saiz's post-Leeds United story three years after his Elland Road exit

Monday, July 18, 2022 marked three years since Leeds United cult hero Samu Saiz left the Whites. Saiz became a popular figure after joining the club in 2017, with the chant 'we've got Saiz' often heard around Elland Road on a matchday.

The Spanish playmaker joined Leeds from Huesca on a four-year deal, scoring a hat-trick on his competitive debut in a 4-1 win over Port Vale in the League Cup. In his first season with the Whites, Saiz scored nine goals and registered eight assists across 37 games in all competitions.

The following season, Saiz played 19 games before being loaned to Getafe in December 2018 after falling down the pecking order under Marcelo Bielsa, and reportedly favouring a move to Spain for family reasons. He moved permanently to Girona for an undisclosed fee the following summer.

In a Leeds shirt, Saiz was capable of moments of creative brilliance, but he also endured spells of indifferent form.

Saiz is still at Girona three years after joining them, and has made more appearances for the City Group-owned side than he has for another club. He has represented the Spanish side 110 times, scoring 10 goals and claiming 17 assists.

Shortly after joining Girona, Saiz admitted that he was struggling to readapt to the Spanish game, but he now appears to be fully settled and enjoying his football.

Now 31, Saiz played more minutes last season than he had done in any previous season for Girona, helping the club to promotion to La Liga for just the second time in their history. He appeared 42 times across all competitions, directly contributing to 13 goals.

Saiz is now preparing for a season in the Spanish top flight as he looks to continue the most settled period of what was at one point a stop-start career.