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Leeds complete £13m signing of Barcelona left-back Junior Firpo

 

Leeds have signed Barcelona full-back Junior Firpo on a four-year deal for £13million.

The 24-year-old has spent the last two seasons at the Camp Nou but turned out just seven times in the league for Ronald Koeman’s side last term, but did play a considerable role in the Catalans’ Copa del Rey triumph earlier this year.

In signing Firpo as his first new face of the summer, Marcelo Bielsa has boosted the Whites’ left-back options with Ezgjan Alioski now out of contract.

The deal is Marcelo Bielsa’s first new face this summer as he plots Leeds’ top-flight season

The left-back told the club’s official webiste: ‘I am really happy, I wanted to be here and I always wanted to play in the Premier League.

‘This summer for me, there was many clubs interested. But when Victor Orta spoke with me and showed me the project, I said ‘wow, this is interesting, they really want me.’

‘In this moment, I said ok I want to go to Leeds. The people said to me that a full Elland Road is incredible. I want to see this! I only want to say I will give my all here, anytime that I play I will give 100% and I saw lots of messages from fans saying ‘Marching On Together’.’

Firpo also praised the tactical work of Bielsa, who he believes can improve him as a player during his time at Elland Road.

 

The new signing said: ‘I saw him in Spain when he trained there. I know the coach that he is, and for me he is a really good coach. He wants to press all the time, play one against one many times, and for me that’s my football.

‘Physical football, running, having the ball, for me it’s not a problem and I think he will help me go to another level.’

The deal is set to be the latest in a long-line of departures for Barcelona this summer, who are struggling with financial difficulties this summer.

The Spanish side announced a debt of £1billion in February and several audits are circling the club to determine the extent of their financial damage ahead of the transfer window.

Firpo played 18 times in all competitions for Barcelona last term, as they won the Copa del Rey

read alsoLeeds joins the race for Barcelona’s Junior Firpo capture

The LaLiga giants are looking to shift players as they try to reduce their huge wage bill, and reportedly keen to release Samuel Umtiti and Miralem Pjanic and loan out Philippe Coutinho – as they still need to find the money to offer Lionel Messi a new contract.

Firpo joined Barcelona in the summer of 2019 for a £15million fee with £10million in add-ons after starring for Real Betis.

Firpo is expected to link up with his new Leeds team-mates for pre-season training this month and could make his Premier League debut away at Manchester United on August 14.

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