Iconic striker tells Gary Lineker he really regrets not joining Leeds United
Leeds United’s Transfer ‘What-Ifs’: The Missed Signing of Duncan Ferguson
Leeds United, like many clubs, have experienced their fair share of near-misses in the transfer market over the years.
In recent seasons, the club showed interest in future stars like Joško Gvardiol, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Cody Gakpo—none of whom ended up at Elland Road, despite serious consideration.
But these aren’t the only “what could have been” moments in the club’s history.
One particularly notable near-miss involved Scottish striker Duncan Ferguson, who came close to joining Leeds before ultimately signing for Rangers.
Ferguson’s Regret Over Turning Down Leeds
After helping Leeds win the final First Division title in 1992, striker Lee Chapman departed the club in 1993, leaving a void up front.
Leeds targeted Ferguson as a potential replacement. However, the young forward chose to join Rangers instead—a decision he now looks back on with regret.
In an interview with Gary Lineker, Ferguson opened up about the move:
“I wanted to go to Rangers. It was a bad move for me. I wasn’t ready—physically or mentally.
I had injuries, yes, but I just wasn’t prepared. Leeds had just won the old First Division and I was going to go there, but I chose Rangers because that’s where my heart was at the time. It’s a decision I regret—I never gave myself a proper chance.”
Ferguson also expanded on the story during an appearance on The Overlap, confirming that conversations with Leeds had taken place in the early ’90s before he opted for a move north of the border.
A Missed Opportunity to Join Leeds’ Legendary Striker Lineage
Had Ferguson made the move to Elland Road, he would’ve joined an elite group of strikers to wear the famous No.9 shirt.
Leeds have a rich history of goal-scorers—from Allan Clarke in the 1970s to 1990s icons like Chapman, Tony Yeboah, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
The tradition continued into the 2000s with Mark Viduka, and more recently with Jermaine Beckford, Luciano Becchio, Ross McCormack, and Chris Wood.
Interestingly, as Leeds prepare for their Premier League return, they may once again be in the market for a centre-forward with Ferguson-like qualities.
The current top-flight trend favours physical, hard-working strikers who can score and battle defenders—precisely the kind of player Ferguson embodied.
While he never pulled on a Leeds shirt, Duncan Ferguson’s near-move remains one of the club’s more intriguing transfer what-ifs.
