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Updated - Everton's Matthew Pennington flying to join Leeds in Austria tonight after agreeing loan to Elland Road:
yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football…
Leeds United complete loan capture of prodigious Everton defender Matthew Pennington
18:38 Tuesday 18 July 2017
Matthew Pennington beats Dele Ali to the ball
Matthew Pennington beats Dele Ali to the ball
Everton defender Matthew Pennington is flying out to join Leeds United’s Austrian training camp tonight after sealing a move to Elland Road.
Pennington has agreed to a season-long loan with Leeds and will begin working with Thomas Christiansen’s side tomorrow having arranged to travel to the team hotel in Fugen this evening.
Leeds beat off strong interest from Hull City to land the 22-year-old, securing an addition in a key area of Christiansen’s squad.
Speaking after a training session in Jenbach tonight, head coach Christiansen said: “He will arrive at the hotel tonight. From tomorrow morning he will be with the team.â€
United were short of central defenders and have been working on a number of potential signings with Liam Cooper and Pontus Jansson the only centre-backs in Austria.
Jansson is banned for the opening two days of the new season and Leeds turned their attention to defensive recruits after bringing in attacking players Samuel Saiz, Ezgjan Alioski and Caleb Ekuban last week.
Pennington, a product of Everton’s academy, was made available by manager Ronald Koeman after Everton paid £25m to take England international Michael Keane from Burnley.
The talented youngster’s time at Goodison Park has offered occasional first-team opportunities and he played and scored in a Merseyside derby against Liverpool last season but Koeman was willing to move him out on loan with his chances likely to be limited next term.
The move is the fourth loan of Pennington’s career following prior spells with Tranmere Rovers, Coventry City and Walsall.
He is unlikely to feature in Thursday’s friendly between Leeds and Borussia Monchengladbach but could play against Eibar on Sunday, the final game of United’s tour of Austria.
Leeds lost a key centre-back in Kyle Bartley at the end of last season when the 26-year-old returned to Swansea City after a year-long loan.
Bartley is currently part of Swansea’s plans and travelled with the club on their tour of the USA last Thursday.