Leeds United continue to approach the summer transfer market with the precision of an experienced supermarket shopper, taking it one department at a time. With the arrival of goalkeeper Lucas Perri from Lyon, the club have now made seven signings across the defensive half of the pitch. Before we start worrying about the top end of the team, we should find out who our new Brazilian shot stopper is.

Career so far

While he shares a similar age and size profile with most of Leeds’ other signings, Perri doesn’t have quite as much first-team experience as them. His career as a first-choice goalkeeper didn’t begin until 2022 when on loan from São Paulo at Brazilian second tier club Náutico.

Perri had moved to Crystal Palace in January 2019, a speculative move for both parties given that he had never made a senior appearance. Perri’s contribution came mostly in the Under23’s, including against Leeds in a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park in April 2019. Palace didn’t activate his option and he returned to São Paulo’s bench.

Perri did come back to London in November 2022, playing for Botafogo who had taken a punt on him after an impressive loan spell at Náutico. Botafogo played Palace in a friendly during the winter World Cup break. The match ended 0-0, partly because of a Perri penalty save from Wilfried Zaha. Needless to say, he had the last laugh.

Botafogo proved the launchpad for the Perri we know today, playing a key role in their early charge to the 2023 Brasileiro Serie A title. But things took a turn when former Wolves boss and Jesse Marsch’s nemesis Bruno Lage took over mid-season and his initial good start — unbeaten in his first ten matches — collapsed once other teams began to expose serious flaws in the team’s defence. Perri’s performances suffered as a result, as did his confidence, and basic mistakes compounded during a run of eight without a win that saw Lage sacked and their title challenge end.

Lyon came calling in January 2024, the club owned by John Textor. He also owns Botafogo, but who’s counting? Perri spent the rest of 2023/24 as understudy to the experienced Antony Lopes before taking over as first choice at the start of last season.

He played his part in Lyon’s 6th place finish and run to the Europa League quarter-finals where they blew a 4-2 lead in the final eight minutes of extra time to Manchester United. Perri will fit in well at Leeds having already suffered at the hands of that lot across the Pennines.

Perri impressed in Lyon last season, even making a club record eight saves in a single match against Marseille in February, promoting his coach Paulo Fonseca to say:

“Right now, the strongest goalkeeper in the world is my goalkeeper. He’s had some good matches. Defensively, he’s really good. Offensively, he’s improved in the way he helps the team with the ball.”

Leeds United now have the best goalkeeper in the world to go along with the world’s best cricketing midfielder Sean Longstaff and Harry Potter lookalike Dan James.

Do we have history?

I almost need not remind you of Crystal Palace U23 2-2 Leeds United U23 on 15 April 2019, an unforgettable day for all Leeds fans.

20’ Kun Temenuzhkov fires the ball across the box, Edmondson heads it towards goal but Lucas Perri is wise to it this time. 0-1 pic.twitter.com/Qzz0UEoSU3

— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 15, 2019

Memory jogged? No? Fair enough. There wasn’t much to report other than conceding two goals that most ‘keepers would have conceded. Who could blame him? After all, he did have to face a team that boasted Izzy Brown in the number ten jersey.

Perri’s time in France saw him brush up against his new teammate Gabriel Gudmundsson a couple of times, while he encountered Charlie Cresswell and Glen Kamara in domestic competition and Robin Koch in the Europa League when they played Frankfurt last season.

Best moment

Despite putting in several match winning man of the match performances last season, Perri’s overall best match for Lyon came in a 3-2 loss at Marseille in February. Lyon were constantly under the cosh all match long, scoring twice against the run of play.

Perri made a club record eight saves in the match, helping to keep them in touch with Marseille until their 85th minute winner. It wasn’t long after that Fonseca called him the best ‘keeper in the world.

Making several saves and keeping his team alive, that might come handy at Leeds.

Worst moment

I remember watching Perri’s worst ‘moment’ as it happened earlier this year. His Lyon side were two goals ahead in the Europa League quarter-final. It was the 112th minute and I thought I’d stick the TV on to witness the imminent Old Trafford meltdown as Manchester United’s woeful 2024/25 season went from bad to worse.

Then it happened. First, they got the soft penalty which Bruno Fernandes duly scored. Lyon only had to hold out for eight minutes, but Scum equalised in the 120th minute. And then Harry Maguire landed his slab head on the end of a cross only a minute later to complete the most typical of Scum comebacks — Scumbacks, if you will — and Perri’s chance at European glory ended there.

There’s always the 2026 Europa Conference League, Lucas. Never fear.

Rate the announcement

👀 Someone order a signing? pic.twitter.com/LAqudasMU7

— Leeds United (@LUFC) July 26, 2025

It’s not quite Raphinha and a plate of fish and chips, but the obvious play on Perri’s name and Nando’s fabled peri-peri chicken was an obvious move, even if Nando’s is a South African chain that sells Portuguese chicken and Perri is Brazilian.

If only Leeds weren’t in Germany at the time of Perri’s arrival, they could have done a video announcement of him being kicked out of a Nando’s after trying to fill his cup with Fanta after only paying for water.

They did, however, upload a video of Perri in action making some great saves but, more importantly, we get to see a glimpse of his famous long throw. Bloody hell, he gets some distance on that thing. I’m visualising him catching a cross — you’re allowed to, you know — and launching the ball like a trebuchet over the top of a defence for Dan James to run in and score. If they can do that every match, we might just be alright.

🔍 A look at our new signing…. pic.twitter.com/p3Q87dbtMr

— Leeds United (@LUFC) July 26, 2025

How will they win us over?

Perri’s distribution doesn’t merely amount to long throws, he can punch it too. Look at this:

Volleyball is Brazil’s second sport and it shows. It’ll be fun to see Elland Road’s meltdown when Perri punches the ball past the halfway line while the entire team stare at him blankly and the ball rolls out for a throw-in.

Like any true Brazilian goalkeeper, he fancies himself as an outfield player also:

He’d likely tell you he’s only a ‘keeper because he’s 6ft 5ins tall. He was born to be a playmaker but forced to wear a pair of gloves. I will be devastated if we don’t see Perri dribbling past bemused defenders on the halfway line in the 95th minute of a match at some point this season.

As far as conventional goalkeeping goes, Perri should be just fine for the team he’s going to be playing in. His shot stopping at Lyon was often top class, posting impressive numbers. Perri needs to improve his footwork under pressure and some question marks remain around his penalty box presence, but as long as he can stop shots and throw the ball a million yards, I’m sure the rest will come with time. ⬢