 After failing to reclaim his place in Terry Venables' team, Fairclough joined Leeds United on loan in March 1989.In the summer of 1989 he made the move permanent, moving for a fee of £500,000.He was immediately installed at the heart of the defence, and the team gained promotion the Second Division in 1990 and went on to win the First Division title two years later - the last top division title before the formation of the FA Premier League.