Leeds United are a side following a five-year plan according to new owner Andrea Radrizzani, something that fans may not want to wait that long for. However, they’ve not had to wait long for the first signing of next season.
In news coming through via an unofficial, yet accurate Twitter account called Lufcyouth (tweet – blow), Daniel Martin, a young left-back, has been snapped up by the Whites.
Welcome to left back Dan Martin who has signed a 2 year deal with #lufc u23s joining from Fulham
— Lufcyouth (@leedsutdacademy) April 11, 2018
This first signing ahead of next season sees the Whites continue their plan of restocking the youth sides (Under-18 and Under-23) at Elland Road. It is also a signing that comes after the 18-year-old turned out as a trialist for Carlos Corberan’s Under-23 side in a 2-0 defeat at Millwall – their first reverse in seven games.
Martin joined Fulham as a schoolboy from Maidstone in Kent. A left-back who can also play in midfield. He made his début for the Under-18s in 2015/16. The following season he nailed down a place in the starting line up for the Under-18s at Craven Cottage. He’s got a reputation as a versatile, utility-style player, able to switch between left-back, left-wing and centre-midfield.
Last season he featured 13 times for Fulham’s Under-18 set-up. He also featured once for the Under-23s in a 4-1 loss against Wolves Under-23 as well as featuring in the Premier League 2 play-offs, where he was on the bench as they lost 2-0 to Newcastle United Under-23s. This term he has featured 14 times for Fulham’s Under-18s, assisting a goal in a 2-0 win over their Southampton counterparts. He also made the jump up to the Under-23 with a 90 minute performance in a 2-1 win against Stoke.
Now it appears that he’s swapped South London for West Yorkshire, becoming Leeds United’s first signing ahead of the forthcoming season.
