Statement released as ex-Leeds United youngster and Marcelo Bielsa debutant drops into non-league
The midfielder made his one and only Premier League appearance under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United.
A former Leeds United youngster who made his Premier League debut under Marcelo Bielsa has dropped into non-league.
Liam McCarron joined Leeds from Carlisle United as an 18-year-old back in 2019, initially joining up with the Under-21 but, as was common under Bielsa, often training with the first-team. The youngster made his Premier League debut off the bench as an injury-ravaged Whites side were beaten 4-1 by Arsenal in December 2021.
That proved to be McCarron’s only first-team appearance for Leeds as he joined Stoke City on a three-year deal in June 2022. The versatile midfielder’s drop down the leagues continued when he joined League One Northampton and he will now spend the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign at National League outfit Boston United.
McCarron’s move was confirmed on Tuesday evening. A statement from the National League club read: “Boston United have completed the signing of left-sided attacker Liam McCarron on a contract running until the end of the season.
“The 24-year-old former Leeds United, Stoke City and Northampton Town player has penned a short-term deal at the Jakemans Community Stadium. McCarron has been allocated squad number 45 and is eligible to make his debut against Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday evening.”
Another Marcelo Bielsa debutant drops down the leagues
McCarron went on to make his debut for Boston on Tuesday evening, again coming off the bench in a 3-2 win at Forest Green Rovers. The Pilgrims currently sit 10th in the Vanarama National League and look set for a mid-table finish.
Now 24-years-old, McCarron is one of several young Bielsa debutants to drop down the EFL in recent years. Fellow Scot Stuart McKinstry got four minutes off the bench against Tottenham Hotspur in November 2021 and is now playing for Scottish League One club Hamilton Academical, while Lewis Bate is in League One with Stockport County.
The most notable move down the EFL, however, came with Tyler Roberts who became a fixture of Bielsa’s Championship title-winning and ninth-placed Premier League outfit. The West Brom youth product played 108 times over four seasons for the Whites, including 50 Premier League games, scoring nine goals in total.
Having initially joined Queens Park Rangers on loan in 2022, Roberts left Leeds permanently the following year to sign a four-year contract at Birmingham City. Now 27, he plays for League One Mansfield Town.