Dominic Calvert-Lewin Signs with Leeds: A Chance to Revive His Career
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has the opportunity to "revive his career" after joining newly promoted Leeds United, according to manager Daniel Farke.
The 28-year-old striker has signed a three-year contract on a free transfer, concluding a nine-year tenure with Everton that ended on a disappointing note.
During his time at Everton, Calvert-Lewin earned 11 caps for the England national team, but a series of injuries hampered his performance in recent seasons. He departed the club when his contract expired at the end of last season.
Farke remarked, "This is a chance for him to revive his career and return to the heights he reached when he was performing exceptionally well in the Premier League. It’s also a significant opportunity for us, as we are acquiring a proven Premier League player."
He added, "The key for him right now is to avoid being overly motivated. We will gradually build up his fitness, allowing him to regain confidence in his body and find his rhythm. If he can achieve this, he has demonstrated his potential and can be outstanding for us."
Having joined from Sheffield United in 2016, Calvert-Lewin scored 57 goals in 239 Premier League appearances for Everton, with his peak performance being 21 goals across all competitions in the 2020-21 season.
However, he has struggled to reach double figures since then, limited to just 18 appearances in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
Overall, Calvert-Lewin netted 71 goals in 273 matches for Everton and becomes Leeds' eighth signing since their promotion back to the Premier League.
Farke expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We are all very happy and excited that he will be wearing a Leeds shirt from now on. As a newly promoted team, we aim to sign players who have already performed at the highest level, are still at a suitable age, and are on the rise in their careers—not those who are already declining. Dominic fits all these criteria."
He continued, "We don’t need to discuss his qualities; he possesses nearly all the skills you would want in a striker. While his last few seasons were disrupted by injuries, he still managed to play 26 games last season."