‘Brave decision by me’ – Victor Orta speaks out on ‘risky’ summer Leeds signing
Leeds United director of football Victor Orta has called the signing of on-loan Whites centre back Ben White last summer a ‘brave decision’.
The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the most inspired signings made by the Yorkshire club in recent years, and he’s enjoyed a stellar campaign at Elland Road.
However, he had previously never played above League One level, so in some respects Orta’s decision to bring him in from Brighton & Hove Albion was something of a gamble.
It’s fair to say that it’s worked out this term, and now Orta has shed some light on his thought process prior to the signing.
“Ben White was a brave decision by me because another director of football may have taken the typical loan from Premier League or confirmed Championship player, but we were convinced by Ben White because we feel he is a good player,” he told Leeds Live.
“Perhaps this is more my style, that can be a bit more risky. I don’t know the word. It’s because, behind me, I trust my people to take these decisions and after I am the decision maker with the head coach.
“In football, nothing is true, nothing is false. Ben White is really [the] proud work of the scouting department.
“We need to give credit to the player. There are four areas. Nobody expected this strong mentality he has. For me, he deserves credit for this. Make your first professional game in the Championship, away to Bristol [City], and be the best on the pitch – wow. Then obviously we feel proud.”
It’s easy to say now that this was an unbelievable bit of business by Orta, but he’s right that many of his peers in the Championship may have snubbed the youngster in favour of a more experienced second tier centre half.
He took the risk, though, because he’d received fantastic scouting reports from people he trusted immensely. White’s addition and subsequent success is the result of many people at Leeds doing their job well.
The Seagulls loanee has been excellent, make no mistake about that. He has arguably been the finest defender in the Championship this season.
He’s averaging 1.8 tackles, 2.5 interceptions and 3.3 clearances per game, while he averages 58.8 passes an outing with a success rate of 85.5%.
The only downside is that Leeds couldn’t negotiate an option to buy as part of the deal.
Perhaps the success that White has enjoyed in Yorkshire will encourage Orta to continue to take these sorts of risks in the transfer market moving forward.
In other Leeds news, a former Whites striker has spoken out on whether he regrets leaving the club.