---
title: "Leeds: Helder Costa set to join Al-Ittihad"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-helder-costa-al-ittihad-transfer-news/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-08-04T13:11:19Z"
modified: "2022-08-04T13:11:19Z"
---

# Leeds: Helder Costa set to join Al-Ittihad

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) have reached an agreement with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad for the transfer of Helder Costa.**

### The Lowdown: Raphinha exit

The Whites have been extremely busy this summer, making a number of first-team additions at a cost of just [under £100m](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/transfers/verein/399). Leeds are still after a new centre-forward after bringing in attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson and winger Luis Sinisterra.

There have been attacking departures, too, with star winger Raphinha moving to Barcelona in a deal worth [£52.3m](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/transfers/verein/399) while Kalvin Phillips joined Manchester City.

Costa’s Elland Road future has also been [speculated about](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/helder-costas-summer-options-winger-24271184) this summer following an unsuccessful loan spell with Valencia where he failed to score in [27](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/helder-costa/leistungsdaten/spieler/173900) appearances, and it looks as if we now know where he will be playing his football for the upcoming season.

### The Latest: Al-Ittihad agreement

[MOT Leeds News](https://motleedsnews.com/transfers/leeds-united-reach-agreement-for-helder-costa-to-join-al-ittihad/) relayed an update regarding Costa from [Ittistudio](https://www.instagram.com/ittistudio/?hl=en) journalist [Abo Oma](https://twitter.com/10koooora/status/1554616346184409088?s=21&t=Q2Zpa2BMOuwYpILfu13I9Q).

He said on his [personal Twitter account](https://twitter.com/10koooora/status/1554616346184409088?s=21&t=Q2Zpa2BMOuwYpILfu13I9Q) that a ‘final agreement’ has been reached for Costa to join Al-Ittihad, who are managed by Nuno Espirito Santo.

[![Latest Leeds United news!](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-48/)

### The Verdict: Best for all involved

Costa made a surprise appearance on the bench in Leeds’ final pre-season friendly against Cagliari but didn’t feature, and it makes sense for him to find a new club, with an Elland Road rebuild under Jesse Marsch in full swing.

\[freshpress-poll id=”402181″\]

It looks as if a move to Al-Ittihad will go though, where he will work under a familiar face in Nuno. The winger made [69](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/helder-costa/leistungsdatentrainer/spieler/173900) appearances under the Portuguese tactician during their time at Wolves, contributing to [16](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/helder-costa/leistungsdatentrainer/spieler/173900) goals.

Costa still has [two years](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/helder-costa/profil/spieler/173900) left on his Leeds deal and [reports](https://twitter.com/ahmad2man/status/1554937293613432840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1554937293613432840%7Ctwgr%5E39da2b6fa00fe6f03d686b78fe9e1defe54f47ad%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmotleedsnews.com%2Fcore%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php) elsewhere suggest a move could be a loan with an option to buy transfer, which appears to be best for all involved.