Leeds United transfers as deal agreed for Man Utd teenager and youth-level international
Leeds United look set to welcome a second youth-level talent to their academy set up this year.
Leeds United are expected to strengthen their academy ranks with the signing of a highly-rated Manchester United teenager.
Deadline day was a quiet one at Elland Road with club chiefs opting against any late arrivals, having missed out on Jorgen Strand Larsen. The Norwegian swapped Wolves for Crystal Palace in a £48million deal and Leeds were content to keep their first-team arrivals at one, with Facundo Buonanotte signing on loan from Brighton earlier in the window.
Work was instead being done at youth-level with deadline-day reports emerging of a move for teenager Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher. The Manchester Evening News claimed on Monday evening that a deal had been agreed for the 17-year-old to head across the Pennines.
Leeds are said to have agreed a permanent deal to take the teenager from Manchester United, where he’s played seven games in the Under-18s Premier League so far this season - some of which came under recent interim first-team boss Darren Fletcher. The attacking midfielder hasn’t featured since November, however.
Ibrovic-Fletcher signed a scholarship deal at Manchester United last year but is expected to get more regular football within the academy set up at Thorp Arch. Leeds will have to pay a compensation fee to their rivals, which can either be agreed between clubs - as seems the case this time - or by a tribunal.
Man Utd teen to become Leeds United’s second youth arrival of 2026
The Leeds-born teenager has so far pledged his international allegiance to Serbia, rising through the age groups and making his Under-19 debut last September. He will likely come into the Under-18s set up at Thorp Arch initially as the second youth-level arrival so far this year.
Leeds confirmed the signing of fellow teenager Leonard Ngenge midway through last month, with the 18-year-old arriving from Remo Stars FC his native Nigeria on a pre-contract agreement. The centre-back put pen to paper on an 18-month contract and is expected to be part of the Under-21s.
Unlike Ibrovic-Fletcher, Ngenge does have experience in senior football with both Remo Stars and previous club Ikorodu City both playing in the Nigeria Premier Football League, while he also has two international caps with Nigeria. And the teenage defender spoke of his West Yorkshire hopes after signing.
“I am excited,” Ngenge told LUTV. “It is a big step for me. It is the biggest step of my career right now and I hope to start perfectly. It is a huge opportunity and hopefully I get to utilise my opportunity and do better for the club, represent the club and be part of the great things they set out to achieve.
“Leeds is a great club. I know they have got tons of history and I heard about some players like Tony Yeboah from Ghana who scored lots of goals, so I know they are a good club. I am left-footed, I like to show my tackling abilities, getting the body in the way and doing everything to cover the goalkeeper.”