Wilfried Gnonto signs new contract at Leeds United — Leedsunited.com 31/8/24
Attacker agrees new deal with the Whites.
Leeds United are delighted to announce Willy Gnonto has
signed a new contract with the club.
The Italian international has put pen-to-paper on a new
four-year deal, running until the summer of 2028.
The 20-year-old has been a constant in the side and an
impressive performer for the Whites, since his arrival from FC Zurich in the
summer of 2020.
Whilst in Switzerland, the former Inter Milan youth star
made 70 appearances, gaining important experience at a young age.
Gnonto remains the youngest scorer for his national side
Italy, having found the net against Germany in a UEFA Nations League qualifier
aged 18-years-old.
His first appearance for the Whites was in the Premier
League, away at Liverpool. Coming off the bench, he provided a debut assist for
the winning goal, bringing a run of 81 unbeaten Anfield matches to an end for
the hosts.
The Italian would finish his first season at Elland Road
with four goals and four assists from 28 appearances, whilst also taking his
caps with the national team into double figures.
Once again showcasing his talent and ability in a Leeds
United shirt, Gnonto would prove to be a pivotal part of Daniel Farke’s side in
the 2023/24 campaign. In just his second appearance of the Sky Bet Championship
season, he scored in a thrilling 4-3 victory away at Ipswich Town.
A season where he played 36 regular league matches in total
for the club saw another impressive return of nine goals and three assists.
So far in the 2024/25 campaign, Gnonto has started every
match in the league for Farke’s side and scored his first goal of the season at
home against Portsmouth on the opening day.
A constant threat on either wing, or centrally, Gnonto has
committed his future to entertaining the supporters both at Elland Road and
away from home for another four years.
We look forward to seeing our number 29 in action once more
this weekend, as the Whites take on Hull City at Elland Road in another big
Yorkshire derby.
Speaking exclusively with LUTV after signing his new
contract, Willy spoke of his delight at remaining with the Whites.
“It feels really good. I'm really happy for this extension.
I'm really happy to be here and obviously I can't wait to play in front of the
fans again,” the 20-year-old stated. “I've been here two years now and I'm
going into my third season, I’m really happy to be here. It's been, since the
start, I can say my second home. I really enjoyed being here and with the
ambition in the club, I see my future here.
“I feel like it's important for me to find some consistency
and I feel like the right place to do it this year. So I'm really happy and I
can't wait to keep going with it.”
After starting the season strongly, beginning with a goal on
the opening day of the Sky Bet Championship season, Gnonto now wants to get
back out there on the pitch in front of the fans.
He said: “Since the start, I felt like Leeds United was like
a family. I felt at home since the start and the fans were with me. My
teammates helped me through the start. I have many teammates, many changes, but
I feel like this is a good place to be and I feel like I can improve even more.
I feel like I can bring many things to the table. I know my qualities, of
course and I know my character, I feel like I can gel really well with the
team. So I try to give my best every time and I feel like everyone can see it.”