Former Watford youngster James Debayo has been pictured signing a contract at Leeds after the West Yorkshire giants fought off competition from bitter rivals Manchester United, as reported by All Nigeria Soccer.
While Debayo isn’t a player who’s likely to force his way into Marcelo Bielsa’s first team plans any time soon, the versatile defender will join a Leeds side that is making some serious moves at youth level.
The Yorkshire giants have already snapped up highly rated Amari Miller from Birmingham City and Sean McGurk from Wigan Athletic this summer.
They also invested £3 million in Arsenal wonderkid Sam Greenwood while bringing in Charlie Allen (Linfield), Joe Gelhardt (Wigan) and one of the Eredivisie’s most exciting talents in the shape of Crysencio Summerville (Feyenoord).
And it didn’t go unnoticed when Mark Jackson’s U23 side stormed to the Premier League 2, Division 2 title last season, finishing 11 points clear at the top while scoring a remarkable 62 goals in 24 games.
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Debayo, then, will be in good company at Thorpe Arch.
Debayo snubs Champions League sides to sign for Leeds
All Nigeria Soccer provides a photo showing the midfielder-turned-defender putting pen to paper on a contract at Leeds, having turned down a chance to extend his stay at Watford.
Debayo also appears to have a number 21 shirt in front of him, although that’s likely to be the number he wears in the club’s academy.
Pascal Struijk currently wears that number for Bielsa’s first team.
Interestingly, it is believed Debayo snubbed offers from the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in favour of Leeds.
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