Leeds United were dealt a huge blow yesterday after Bournemouth hijacked their deal to sign Max Aarons.

The Whites dropped down to the Championship after what was a really poor campaign in the Premier League last season. Their aim is to go straight back up, and Daniel Farke believed Aarons could help his side achieve that.

The right-back’s decision, however, shocked everyone at Leeds, reports The Athletic.

Leeds United left shocked after Max Aarons snubbed them and joined Bournemouth

It seemed certain that Leeds United would sign Max Aarons this week.

The Whites have been keen on reinforcements since the start of the window. They have been linked with quite a few players over the last few weeks, and Aarons was a really exciting name.

Leeds held talks with Norwich City and agreed a deal with them for the 23-year-old. Everything was going to plan and the report even claims the Whites had booked Aarons a hotel in Yorkshire ahead of his arrival.

The report also claims Farke was involved in the transfer process to make sure Aarons would not have a change of heart over a transfer to Elland Road.

However, Leeds officials were shocked to learn that the right-back had indeed changed his mind.

Bournemouth came in for Aarons in the eleventh hour and agreed a deal with Norwich. The 23-year-old decided to accept their offer as well, and he ended up moving to the south coast.

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This must be really frustrating for Leeds fans.

It’s almost like the Dan James transfer saga back in 2019, when he was on the verge of joining the Whites, but the deal collapsed right at the end.

The officials at Leeds have every right to be annoyed by what has happened, but Bournemouth are in the Premier League, and you can’t really blame Aarons for choosing to play in the top flight this term.

It will be interesting to see who Leeds will go after now that they’ve missed out on Aarons.