Leeds United make Darryl Ombang transfer announcement as goalkeeper heads to Manchester

Leeds United have confirmed goalkeeper Darryl Ombang has joined FC United of Manchester on loan.

Ombang has made 10 appearances for the Whites' Under-21s side this season but will now spend the rest of the campaign in the Northern Premier League.

The 20-year-old previously played five matches for National League outfit Darlington, stepping in as cover for their injured first-choice stopper, but returned in November.

He will now hope for regular senior minutes after completing his Leeds exit and temporarily moving to the seventh tier.

Does Darryl Ombang have a future at Leeds?

Ombang has played regularly for the U21s and U18s since arriving from Yorkshire rivals Bradford City in 2021, but has not managed to break into Daniel Farke's senior set-up.

This is despite Ombang being acclaimed as one of the "most promising young goalkeepers coming through in England" by the Daily Mail following his switch to Elland Road.

He had also attracted interest from Manchester United and Everton before settling on Leeds. However, his five-year stint has largely seen him compete for the No 1 shirt in the academy.

Rory Mahady has been his main sparring partner this season, while former first-team stalwart Illan Meslier has also dropped into Scott Gardner's U-21 squad for more minutes.

Ombang will therefore hope that his loan switch signals a welcome reset.

FC United of Manchester are currently third in the Northern Premier League, three points off top spot, so the young stopper will be thrust straight into the firing line.

In a statement on Saturday, Leeds said they would be "monitoring his progress closely".

Illan Meslier could be next Leeds goalkeeper off - for good

Meslier's situation at Elland Road is certainly unusual.

The goalkeeper is set to leave in the summer after losing his spot as Farke's starting goalkeeper following a series of costly mistakes in last season's Championship run-in.

His contract runs down in June, and there are no indications that he will be handed fresh terms. However, he is rumoured to be attracting interest from multiple clubs on the continent.

He had come close to moving to Turkey in the winter, while Lorient have explored a swoop.

Shifting Meslier off their books would save the Whites over £1.5million a year in wages alone, so letting him go as soon as possible is a no-brainer for the hierarchy.