Sporting director confirms Leeds United have a pre-contract agreed to sign exciting 17-year-old
Despite the uncertainty both on the pitch and upstairs in the board room, that has not stopped Leeds United making moves in the transfer market ahead of the summer.
Angus Kinnear has been confirmed as leaving the club after an eight-year spell and will be joining Everton as part of an exciting new era for Jack Harrison’s loan side, after The Friedkin Group’s £400m takeover.
Experienced Peter McCormick has come in as a new director to help replaces the loss of Kinnear in the board room. Defeat to Portsmouth on Sunday has thrown the promotion race wide open, on the pitch.
Yet, Leeds are preparing for a busy summer and while any big first-team signings will have to wait given it depends which league The Whites are in – The 49ers are said to have rubber-stampted a pre-contract.
READ MORE: Josuha Guilavogui sends message to Leeds United fans after Portsmouth defeat
View Instagram Post
Leeds United are set to sign teenage defender Leonard Ngenge
The sporting director of top-tier Nigerian side Ikorodu City has confirmed that there is an “existing” deal in place for 17-year-old defender Leonard Ngenge to join Leeds in the summer, when he turns 18.
FIFA rules prohibit players joining English clubs under the age of 18 but by the time his contract with the top-tier outfit expires and his pre-contract is struck, the left-footed defender will have celebrated his 18th.
Ngenge has already played 18 senior games for Ikorodu in Nigeria and now, Leeds have agreed a deal to sign him this summer. Ikorodu’s sporting director, Wale Quadri, confirmed the news to All Nigeria Soccer.
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
‘Just’: Joey Barton makes intriguing promotion claim as Leeds United lose, and he’s right
‘Just’: Joey Barton makes intriguing promotion claim as Leeds United lose, and he’s right
Leeds United News
1 hour ago
‘We are’: Josuha Guilavogui sends desperate message to Leeds United fans after Portsmouth defeat
‘We are’: Josuha Guilavogui sends desperate message to Leeds United fans after Portsmouth defeat
Leeds United News
2 hours ago
Daniel Farke has to drop Leeds player after just 20 touches and all seven duels lost vs Portsmouth – opinion
Daniel Farke has to drop Leeds player after just 20 touches and all seven duels lost vs Portsmouth – opinion
Leeds United News
13 hours ago
Neil Warnock admits he was ‘disappointed’ with one Leeds United player vs Portsmouth
Neil Warnock admits he was ‘disappointed’ with one Leeds United player vs Portsmouth
Leeds United News
14 hours ago
Neil Warnock says what ‘disappointed’ Daniel Farke will do behind Leeds scenes now, after Portsmouth loss
Neil Warnock says what ‘disappointed’ Daniel Farke will do behind Leeds scenes now, after Portsmouth loss
Leeds United News
15 hours ago
“Ngenge has an existing deal with Leeds United, it’s a pre-contract. By August he should be joining Leeds. He was scouted in Nigeria and then invited to Leeds for further training,” Quadri told All Nigeria Soccer
“He came back like two weeks ago from Leeds. That should be his second visit to Leeds. He is being signed as a player for the future, they are waiting for him to turn 18 years,” the sporting director added.
View Instagram Post
Leonard Ngenge has posted pictures of himself in a Leeds shirt
The teenage talent is clearly excited by his move to Elland Road, having already uploaded images of himself to Instagram in a Leeds shirt and training kit – despite still playing for his boyhood club Ikorodu.
Indeed, Ngenge has enjoyed an excellent couple of weeks with his current side. He scored his first pro goal in a 2-0 win over FC Heartland at the start of the month, and got an assist on Saturday to win 1-0.
Ngenge is likely to join Scott Gardner’s U21 side with a view to breaking into the first team. But, Diogo Monteiro – who joined from Swiss side Servette – is an example of how hard it is to break in as a defender.
Be the first to comment