Leeds United have today completed the signing of Everton defender Matthew Pennington on a season-long loan deal, as confirmed by the club’s official website.
However, it did not always look as though Pennington would be heading to Leeds. Championship rivals Hull City were also interested in the defender and were reportedly ‘very hopeful’ of signing him.
Hull City were in for Pennington and very hopeful of signing him before Leeds pushed themselves to the front of the queue. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) July 19, 2017
That is until Leeds came in for Pennington and ‘pushed themselves to the front of the queue’, according to journalist Phil Hay on Twitter. Given that Hull have recently just come down from the Premier League, beating them to the signing of Pennington is a big positive for Leeds as they work towards promotion themselves.
Pennington, 22, signed his first professional contract with Everton back in 2013 but has had very limited game-time at the club. He has made nine senior appearances for the club, scoring his only goal against Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby last season.
The defender has been loaned out by Everton three times, to a different League One club on each occasion. His most successful loan spell came with Coventry City in the 2014-15 season. Pennington made 25 appearances for the club in all competitions and won the club’s Young Player of the Season Award.
[interaction id=”596f4d8b7ea93a275889d9cc”]Playing Championship football with Leeds will be a new challenge for Pennington, but one he should be able to handle.
Leeds have been searching for a new centre-back to replace Kyle Bartley, who returned to Swansea City at the end of his loan spell with the club. If Pennington can make his time at Leeds as successful as Bartley’s, there is no reason why he can’t go on to become a first-team regular for Everton in the future.
Meanwhile, Leeds are waiting on a decision from Liverpool over the future of young midfielder Ryan Kent. The Whites have also been linked with a move for Aston Villa defender Tommy Elphick.
