Leeds United complete first signing of January transfer window by landing highly-rated young centre forward - YEP 4/1/22
Leeds United have completed their first signing of the January transfer window by recruiting teenage centre forward Mateo Joseph Fernandez from Espanyol.
By Lee Sobot
Whites director of football Victor Orta had been chasing the
18-year-old striker for several months but the teen was reportedly also
attracting interest from Barcelona, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Leeds, though, have been able to land the young attacker for
an undisclosed fee, the teen signing for the Whites on a three-and-a-half year
contract that expires in June 2025.
Reports in Spain suggested Fernandez had a release clause of
£1.3m although the forward was expected to move for less due to his contract
being up in the summer.
Leeds acted quickly to secure his arrival in West Yorkshire
before he became a free agent.
Fernandez will now join up with Mark Jackson’s Under-23s
side having already impressed in Espanyol’s Academy set up.
The striker netted 44 goals in 56 games across three seasons
from under-16 to under-19 level whilst also having featured for Espanyol’s B
team.
Last season the teen bagged 14 goals in 21 matches for
Espanyol’s Under-19s.
The striker was born in Spain to British parents meaning he
is eligible to represent England despite holding Spanish citizenship.
Leeds hope the teen will be the first of a few arrivals over
the course of the January transfer window.
On the outgoings front, Whites striker Ryan Edmondson has
joined Port Vale on loan until the end of the season.
The 20-year-old had spent the first half of the campaign at
League One side Fleetwood Town but failed to make an impact in Lancashire.
He has now joined up with play-offs chasing Vale in League
Two until the summer where he will hope to find more regular game time.
Edmondson penned a new three-year deal at Elland Road in 2020, which leaves him
with 18 months left to run on his contract at Leeds.
