Calvert-Lewin can ‘revive career’ with Leeds move

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has a chance to “revive his career” after joining newly promoted Leeds, says boss Daniel Farke.

The 28-year-old striker has signed a three-year contract on a free transfer after ending a nine-year spell with Everton on a disappointing note.

Calvert-Lewin earned 11 England caps during his time with the Toffees, but was hindered by a series of injuries in recent seasons and left at the end of last term when his contract expired.

Farke said: “It’s a chance for him to revive his career and reach his former heights, when he was outstanding at the Premier League level, and it’s a big chance for us because we’ve got a proven Premier League player.

Having arrived from Sheffield United in 2016, Calvert-Lewin scored 57 goals in 239 Premier League appearances for Everton, with his best haul of 21 in all competitions in 2020-21.

Since then he has failed to reach double figures and was restricted to just 18 games in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns.

In all, Calvert-Lewin scored 71 goals in 273 games for Everton and becomes Leeds’ eighth signing since earning promotion back to the top flight.

“We are all pretty happy and delighted that he will wear a Leeds shirt from now on,” added Farke.

“As a newly promoted side, we want to sign players that have already delivered at the top level, but are still at a good age and on the way up in the career, not already on their way down. Those boxes are all ticked by Dominic.

“We don’t have to speak about his qualities, he has more or less all the skills that you would like your striker to have.

“Of course, his last few seasons were interrupted by injuries but he still managed to play 26 games last season.”

Calvert-Lewin’s signing is a fascinating one for Leeds.

The injury-plagued Patrick Bamford failed to start a Championship match last season, making 17 appearances as a substitute, and, having said he can leave, Leeds have now recruited a player with a similar profile and questionable fitness record.

Calvert-Lewin missed three months of last season and has not scored more than seven Premier League goals in any of the past four campaigns.

Statistically, he can be considered the worst finisher of any forward in the top flight. Since the start of 2022-23, he’s scored just 12 times in total from an xG of 25.7 – the biggest underperformance of any player during this period (-13.7), while former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is second on this list at -8.5.

However, the fact Calvert-Lewin was offered a new deal by Everton before he left shows he retains value as an effective lone target man and capable of occupying defenders.

He could get the chance to do that on Monday against his former club, who are without England centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite through injury.