Nadiem Amiri opens up on Leeds United transfer situation | OneFootball

Nadiem Amiri has opened up on his decision to reject a move to Leeds United last summer.

The 27-year-old was linked with a move to the Whites last year following their relegation from the Premier League.

The playmaker travelled to England as part of the talks over a move to Elland Road, but ultimately opted to remain at Bayer Leverkusen.

Amiri struggled for game time with the Bundesliga outfit, and ultimately departed the club in January.

He made the permanent switch to German side Mainz, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract.

Amiri has opened up on the decision to turn down a move to Leeds last summer, despite travelling to Yorkshire to discuss the transfer.

He revealed that the switch to English football was one he didn’t want to make for family reasons.

"Leeds really wanted me,” said Amiri, via German outlet Watson.

“They made me a big offer and asked me to just come and have a look around.

“But I couldn't really imagine it, especially for family reasons.

“[My wife was] heavily pregnant at home alone in Düsseldorf at the time.

“It was clear to me: I would come on the day and leave on the same day.

"When I got there, I was supposed to sign directly that day, even though that hadn't been agreed.

"A lot of what you read in the media afterwards wasn't true.

“There was no back and forth with the acceptances and cancellations, I was clear from the start.”

Amiri had struggled for game time at Leverkusen prior to his departure from the club last January.

The attacking midfielder has been a consistent presence in the Mainz side since making the switch, starting all 10 of his league appearances (all stats from Fbref).

Leeds United's promotion challenge

Meanwhile, Leeds are competing for promotion to the Premier League this season.

Daniel Farke has built a side capable of fighting for a top two side without Amiri joining the club.

If the Whites can overcome one of Leicester City or Ipswich Town in the coming weeks, then the situation surrounding Amiri’s failed move to Elland Road will have worked out for both parties in the end.

The gap to the top two is currently one point, but there are just four games remaining to earn an automatic promotion place.

Next up for the Yorkshire outfit is a home game against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon in a 12.30pm kick-off.

Amiri situation one for Leeds to forget

Amiri made his decision to turn down Leeds, and this has helped to shed some light on why.

Given there were family reasons for the decision, there was nothing the club could really have to try and change his mind.

It worked out well for him with his move to Mainz, and now the Championship club can move on and forget about their pursuit of the player.

The club still had a successful summer period despite missing out on this target, with key players like Ethan Ampadu and Joel Piroe brought in to bolster Farke’s squad for their promotion fight.