PREMIER LEAGUE
Leeds United on the verge of signing Weston McKennie from Juventus
The midfielder is reported to be close to joining the English side, initially on loan.
The American dream continues. Premier League club Leeds United are on the verge of signing Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie. The American player is reported to be joining The Whites on loan until the end of the season, with a purchase option for the following year.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano tweeted earlier that Leeds will pay €1.2m loan fee and that the deal will also include an option to buy the player for €33 million plus add ons.
Leeds’ January transfer dealings
The deal has rumbled on with rumours having circled of a potential move for Moroccan midfielder, Azzedine Ounahi. However, it feels as though that transfer has now died down given the supposed progression of the agreement between Leeds and Juventus for McKennie. The manager of the Italian club, Massimiliano Allegri, said that “McKennie will not be available tomorrow because he is at the centre of a negotiation. I think the club has already found an agreement with his new team and therefore he won’t be there tomorrow.”
So far, Leeds have already spent big in the window. They have signed Maximilian Wöber from RB Salzburg as well as Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim for a combined total of around £45-50 million; adding McKennie would significantly increase that number.
McKennie joins the US revolution at Elland Road
McKennie, born in Washington, moved to Juventus permanently in 2021 after a year on loan in Italy from parent club Schalke, becoming the first ever US player to play for The Old Lady. His singing for Leeds would make him the third USMNT player to currently play for the English club, after Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson. Adams captained the US at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and formed a strong partnership with McKennie, which is something they could potentially continue in Yorkshire.
Led by American coach Jesse Marsch, the side have struggled so far this season, winning just four games in the first half of the season. The club is currently in a state of purgatory, with current owner Andrea Radrizzani waiting for the stars to align regarding a potential takeover from 49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of NFL side, San Francisco 49ers. The deal is expected to go through any time soon.