Having narrowly missed out on the play-offs in the 2016/17 season, Leeds United were looking to add to their squad to mount a sustained promotion challenge for a second consecutive year.

Under new manager Thomas Christensen and new owner Andrea Radrizzani, players were being looked at in earnest with a view to bringing in reinforcements ahead of the 2017/18 season.

Not too long after the club’s players returned to Thorp Arch for pre-season training, they were followed by their latest recruit.

On July 13, 2017, the club confirmed the capture of Ezgjan Alioski on a four-year deal from Swiss side Lugano.

The reaction by the Leeds supporters of the signing was initially positive having just missed out on a play-off place the season prior.

The club’s fans took to Twitter after the confirmation of the deal to express their pleasure.

There was optimism abound at Elland Road ahead of the new season and for the capture of Alioski who was soon to be unleashed on the Championship.

It took the Macedonian five appearances to score his first league goal for his new club in the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in August of 2017.

Alioski would score seven goals in 44 appearances last term including four in five matches last November.

He would also notch five assists in a season that would ultimately end in disappointment with Leeds finishing 13th in the second-tier.

On 21 April 2017, Alioski scored the winner with his seventh goal of the season in a 2–1 victory for Leeds in the Yorkshire derby against Barnsley.

That was a highlight in what was an impressive debut campaign for the 25-year-old, and his success did not end on the pitch.

On 16 April 2018, Alioski was nominated as one of four players for Leeds United's Player of The Year award but missed out on the prize to Pablo Hernandez.

Alioski would win a personal accolade, however, when he won the Goal of the Season award for his strike against Nottingham Forest at Leeds' annual award ceremony in May 2018.

This year the Macedonian has scored three and registered three assists in 12 Championship appearances and is well on the way to eclipse his tally from last year.

The initial reaction was positive, but the impression Alioski has had on the fans since he superseded their expectations upon his arrival last summer.