Leeds and Celtic gazumped in £100k-a-week deal for key free agent
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Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media, Imago
Oliver Walton
Thu 4 September 2025 15:14, UK
Leeds and Celtic have each missed out on signing Josh Brownhill following his exit from Burnley as he edges closer to a big-money move abroad.
Josh Brownhill was a standout in the Championship last season as he helped Burnley to promotion with 18 goals and six assists in 42 league games.
He chose to leave Turf Moor at the end of his contract in the summer, despite their return to the Premier League, citing a desire to challenge himself further and to “grow as person and a professional” [Brownhill on X].
Football Insider revealed prior to his exit that Everton and West Ham were frontrunners to sign Brownhill after his impressive second-tier exploits, but both clubs seemingly moved on from signing him as the window progressed.
Brownhill was also targeted by Celtic, as revealed by Football Insider in August, while Leeds also eyed up a move for Brownhill last month with the race to sign him heating up, but he now looks to have snubbed any chance of staying in the UK to take up a lucrative offer overseas.
Celtic missed out on Dolberg (Copyright: xJOERANxSTEIINSIEKx)
According to a new report by Sky Sports reporter James Savundra, Brownhill has agreed to join Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab for a new challenge in his career.
The 29-year-old is believed to be set to earn more than £100,000-a-week at the Riyadh-based side, and he will travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday (5 September) to undergo a medical and finalise his move.
https://x.com/jamessavundra/status/1963589300311756808?s=46&t=busTurDhk_-RswKrlS6YdA
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Football Insider verdict
It does come as a shock to think that Brownhill has not already been snapped up by a Premier League side or a team like Celtic, who are often able to tempt players of his ilk north of the border due to the lure of European football and constant trophies.
The fact he has remained a free agent until September alludes to the possibility that he knew such a lucrative offer was going to come his way, and it may well turn out that he has been in talks with Saudi teams, such as Al Shabab, for a number of months.
AppearancesGoalsAssists2113223Brownhill’s Burnley career stats
Still, he would have been a good signing for Leeds in particular upon their return to the Premier League, especially as he would likely have been content to be rotated with Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu.
The latter’s current injury woes, and troubled history in that regard, are also a huge reason as to why Daniel Farke’s side should have pushed harder for Brownhill, as Ampadu has suffered two serious knee setbacks since joining the club in 2023.
Farke was able to bolster his midfield during the summer window with the signings of Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff, but Brownhill would have come a lot cheaper than both, on a free transfer, and would arguably have added more quality and nous than the former Newcastle man.