Leeds United hand Jayden Lienou new three-year deal before US tour | OneFootball

Leeds United have tied 18-year-old left-back Jayden Lienou to a new three-year contract ahead of the club’s US pre-season trip with the senior squad.

The club said in a statement that the deal keeps him at Elland Road until 2029 after an impressive debut season with Scott Gardner’s Under-21s, when he made 26 appearances including outings against senior opposition in the EFL Trophy and National League Cup.

Lienou joined from Manchester City last summer and was a mainstay for the Under-21s. Late in the campaign, Daniel Farke named him on the bench for Premier League games against Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion after an injury to Gabriel Gudmundsson.

Post-season, Craig Bellamy called the left-sided defender into Wales camp and friendlies with Ghana and Romania. He drew praise from Bellamy and was an unused substitute against Ghana.

He has worked with the first team from the start of pre-season and is expected to fly to America today for the tour.

Farke has highlighted the need for more left-footed options, with Gudmundsson the only natural senior left-back. After Pascal Struijk’s departure, Leeds signed Tarik Muharemovic for £34m to play left-sided centre-back, and they are expected to explore further options at left-back this summer.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk