Leeds United Host RB Leipzig in Pre-Season as Elland Road Renovations Continue

Leeds United is bringing a Champions League-caliber opponent to Elland Road this summer. The club confirmed Friday that RB Leipzig will visit West Yorkshire for a preseason friendly on Saturday, August 8, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. local time.

It’s the first of two home friendlies Leeds has planned, with a second match scheduled for the following weekend — though the opponent hasn’t been announced yet. That game will also be at Elland Road.

More than just a warm-up

This isn’t just another exhibition game. Leipzig finished third in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season, earning themselves a spot in the Champions League group stage. For Leeds fans, it’s a chance to measure their team against one of Europe’s more consistent sides. And for the club’s hierarchy, it’s a test run of the renovated stadium.

The West Stand is currently undergoing redevelopment, so it will be closed for both matches. That means reduced capacity and likely a different atmosphere than usual. Ticket details haven’t been released yet, but expect them to go fast.

A loaded preseason schedule

Leeds has a busy summer ahead. Before those home games, the team is heading to the United States for a three-match tour against Sunderland, Wrexham, and Liverpool. Then it’s off to Dublin later in the summer for a meeting with old rivals Manchester United. That’s six preseason games total against a mix of Championship, Premier League, and Bundesliga opposition.

It’s a heavy schedule, but manager Daniel Farke will likely use it to test different lineups and build fitness ahead of the Championship campaign.

The Augustin connection

There’s also some awkward history between these two clubs. Leeds and Leipzig were locked in a legal dispute a few years back over Jean-Kevin Augustin. The striker’s move from Leipzig to Leeds went bad — he barely played, Leeds didn’t trigger the purchase option, and a FIFA ruling eventually ordered Leeds to pay Leipzig around £18 million. That case dragged through the courts for years before settling in 2023.

It’s probably not on anyone’s mind heading into this friendly. But it’s a reminder that these clubs have dealt with each other before, and not just on the pitch.

Leeds will announce the second home friendly opponent and ticket sale dates in the coming weeks.