Leeds United signed Yosuke Ideguchi a little earlier this month.
PJ Roberts has told ESPN that Leeds United have signed “a very talented player” in Yosuke Ideguchi.
The Japan international signed a four-and-a-half year deal with Leeds this week from Gamba Osaka, for around £500,000 according to BBC Sport.
The 21-year-old midfielder has been sent on loan to Cultural Leonesa in the Spanish second division, with United’s Director of Football Victor Orta suggesting that the competition for places is too fierce in midfield and he needs regular football for his World Cup hopes.
Ideguchi was on the scoresheet back in August as the Blue Samurai beat Australia 2-0 to book their spot in Russia, curling home a wonderful second, and former Australian player Roberts admits that the goal still ‘sends shivers down his spine’.
He told ESPN: “He’s a very talented young player. As an Australian it sends a shiver down my spine reminiscing about the very impressive goal he scored against the Socceroos.
“Leeds are a very ambitious club, currently in sixth position in the Championship and obviously really striving to win promotion to the Premier League, so we’re going to look forward to see how he settles in to European football.”
Some Leeds fans were frustrated with the decision to loan out Ideguchi straight away, but if his stint in Spain helps him adapt to European football and allows him to arrive at Elland Road a better player during the summer then surely it’s worth it in the long term.
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