Who is Orlando Gill? Five facts on Leeds’ target to back up James Trafford | OneFootball

Leeds United have confirmed a club-record capture of James Trafford from Man City, the England World Cup back-up signing a five-year deal to June 2031 after a Thursday medical. The fee is believed to be £45m including add-ons. They still need an understudy, with Karl Darlow and Illan Meslier gone and Lucas Perri set for a loan to Torino.

According to Sky Sports, Leeds have compiled a five-man shortlist, with Paraguay’s Orlando Gill among the candidates.

Gill, 26, stands at six foot six, a similar profile to Trafford, and is under contract at San Lorenzo until December 2027. He joined in 2024 as a reserve but has since become No 1. Despite his age he has only 59 senior appearances, yet his form in Argentina has seen him regarded as one of South America’s best goalkeepers.

His reputation grew at the World Cup. Paraguay took four points in the group, beating Türkiye 1-0, and a 4-1 loss to Brenden Aaronson’s USA did not halt progress. In the round of 32 they defeated Germany on penalties, with Gill saving from Nick Woltemade and Jonathan Tah.

BBC Sport reports that Gill became a father at 22 and, after complications left his son Lautaro in intensive care and wife Melissa needing surgery, he sold his kit to help pay for treatment, even questioning whether to continue in the game.

Four years on he is being linked with the Premier League again, and Leeds looked at him last summer. They instead signed Perri amid Lyon’s financial issues, but that move has failed, so a return for Gill as Trafford’s back-up could follow.

Source: Leedsunited.news

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