Who is Anton Stach? The latest as Leeds United identify Bundesliga ball-winning monster as transfer target
Who Is Leeds United Target Anton Stach? Everything You Need to Know
Leeds United have identified Hoffenheim’s Anton Stach as a potential midfield addition, with the German international emerging as a top target for Daniel Farke as the club seeks to bolster its engine room.
As first reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post on Tuesday, Leeds are keen on Stach following their unsuccessful £22 million bid for Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra, who is expected to join Sunderland.
With competition anticipated for the 26-year-old Stach, Leeds are preparing for a battle to secure his signature after another impressive Bundesliga campaign.
Leeds have already added free agent striker Lukas Nmecha and centre-back Jaka Bijol (for £15 million) to the squad, while defender Sebastiaan Bornauw is undergoing a medical ahead of a £5.1 million switch from Wolfsburg. Now, attention has turned to midfield, with Stach firmly on the radar.
Who is Anton Stach?
Stach fits the physical profile Leeds are prioritizing this summer. Standing at 6ft 4in, he’s primarily a defensive midfielder but is also capable of playing in more advanced roles.
He has been a consistent presence for Hoffenheim over the last two seasons, amassing 74 appearances, four goals, and five assists.
Prior to joining Hoffenheim in a £9.4 million deal, he enjoyed spells with Mainz and Greuther Fürth, the latter of which he helped win promotion to the Bundesliga in 2020/21.
In total, Stach has made 243 senior appearances across various levels in German football, including the fourth-tier Regionalliga Nord. He also has two caps for the German national team, having made his debut in 2022.
What Type of Player is He?
Stach is a physical, ball-winning midfielder — a profile that aligns with several of Leeds’ recent targets. At Hoffenheim, his role has largely involved breaking up opposition play and initiating attacks from deep.
Data from FBRef.com shows he ranks in the top 20% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for key defensive metrics including ball recoveries, interceptions, aerial duels, and blocks per 90 minutes.
He’s also above average in progressive passing, making him a capable distributor after winning possession.
Stach averaged 3.96 ground duels won per 90 minutes last season with a success rate of 58.8% — better than Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu (3.43 at 58.4%) and close to Ao Tanaka (4.13 at 53.1%), despite the latter two playing in the Championship.
In terms of overall ball recovery, Stach regained possession 5.94 times per 90 minutes — higher than both Ampadu (5.08) and Tanaka (5.89) in the second tier, even though their teams had more defensive responsibilities.
This blend of defensive prowess and ball progression explains why Stach is attracting interest. Sky Germany previously linked him to Champions League qualifiers Eintracht Frankfurt, while last summer he was also reportedly on the radar of Newcastle United and Fulham.
