Leeds United officially confirmed the signing of Junior Firpo from Barcelona for a fee of £15 million on Tuesday. The Spanish full-back has signed a contract with Leeds United that will keep him up at Elland Road till the summer of 2025. Although Barcelona will retain 20% of any future sale of the player.
The Whites decided to sign Junior Firpo after Ezgjan Alioski’s displeasure with the contract extension. Alioski played at the left-back position for Leeds United who has now left Elland Road after his contract ran out on July 1. This brings the youngster Junior Firpo to Elland Road. He will be covering the left-back position after the imminent departure of Alioski.
Leeds United were quick at securing the Firpo deal. The Whites ignited their interest in the 24-year old and quickly moved for it. Firpo also received offers from many different clubs across Europe and the most prominent one was from the Italian giants AC Milan but the deal somehow did not go ahead.
Marcelo Bielsa and the Director of Football, Victor Orta personally talked to Junior Firpo and convinced him to sign for the Whites.
Also, the lack of game time and opportunities at Barcelona was a major reason for Firpo to move. He who signed for the Catalan giants from Real Betis in 2019 appeared 7 times out of which he started in only 3 games in La Liga.
🔥 Welcome @JuniorFirpo03! pic.twitter.com/4XS9CztV52
— Leeds United (@LUFC) July 6, 2021
“I am really happy, I wanted to be here and I always wanted to play in the Premier League,” Firpo expressed himself when finally unveiled by United Leeds. “This summer for me, there was many clubs interested. But when Victor Orta spoke with me and showed me the project, I said ‘wow, this is interesting, they really want me’. In this moment, I said ok I want to go to Leeds. The people said to me that a full Elland Road is incredible. I want to see this! I only want to say I will give my all here, anytime that I play I will give 100% and I saw lots of messages from fans saying ‘Marching On Together’.”
Marcelo Bielsa has been a stepping stone for many players to move to Elland Road and Firpo also expressed his desire to develop his game further with guidance from the Argentine.
He said: “I saw him [Marcelo Bielsa] in Spain when he trained there. I know the coach that he is, and for me he is a really good coach. He wants to press all the time, play one against one many times, and for me that’s my football. Physical football, running, having the ball, for me it’s not a problem and I think he will help me go to another level. I think in this team I can show the player that I am, for me I hope I can show the people what I want to show.”
While Leeds United have landed a perfect player for them who is young, talented and a future prospect, it will be exciting to watch the youngster in the White colours. Leeds United kick starts their pre-season against Guiseley AFC on Tuesday 27th July.
