Diego Llorente contract sent in to league, Leeds United to Roma move now complete
Diego Llorente’s Roma contract has been deposited with the league in Italy and his exit from Leeds United is complete, Gianluca Di Marzio reports.
The Spanish defender travelled to the Italian capital on Monday (30 January) ahead of a surprise loan-to-buy move that is seen as odds-on to net the Whites a considerable fee.
He was taken to a private medical centre straight from the airport to start his medical, meaning his move has now been completed in good time before the deadline.
Sky Sports Italy journalist Di Marzio has reported via his website: “José Mourinho officially has a new defender, Diego Llorente is a new Roma player. The Giallorossi club deposited the Spaniard’s contract with the League.
“The Spanish defender arrives from Leeds on loan for 500,000 euros with the right to buy out at 18. Llorente was already coached by Mourinho at Real Madrid and the Portuguese coach made him debut in the first team.”
Done deal
The half a million euros [£439,000] is lower than the three quarter million [£659,000] reported previously by la Gazzetta dello Sport on Monday, but with the full fee in the future is still an excellent move.
Llorente had lost his place in Jesse Marsch’s side, and with Max Wober arriving his prospects of featuring with any regularity had taken another hit.
That they are now as good as certain to make a profit on the original purchase price of £18million, with the permanent option so easily triggered it is widely seen as an obligation, is a major bonus.
And with Diogo Monteiro already brought in as a replacement Leeds United will be extremely happy with this late-window development.
If Llorente can find a new lease of life under the Special One then clearly he will benefit as well, so this appears to be a deal that works out all round, even if Roma fans might be slightly unsure at this point.
The Whites have stayed active throughout the month, and possibly with the exception of an exit on loan for Joe Gelhardt, everything will have made supporters pretty satisfied.
In other Leeds United news, a rival is fighting a deadline day battle to convince another Elland Road player to leave.