Done deal: Leeds confirm new three-year contract for young defender
Leeds United have confirmed that emerging defender Oliver Casey has signed a new three-year contract at Elland Road.
On Tuesday evening, Leeds announced on their official Twitter account and official website that the 19-year-old has extended his deal until 2023 after breaking into Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team this season.
Casey was handed his senior debut by Bielsa back in December when he came off the bench in the final phases of the win against Huddersfield.
After impressing in that performance, Casey was a regular in Bielsa’s matchday squad as he was named on the bench in the Championship 10 times between then and now.
Kalvin Phillips has been ruled out of Leeds’ last three games of the season so there’s a chance that a spot on the bench is now up for grabs for Casey to play some more.
Ben White is likely to replace Phillips in the midfield so that means Gaetano Berardi will move up into the starting line-up.
If Bielsa needs a centre-back to call upon to step up then it should be Casey.
Stats by WyScout show that the teenager completed all four of the passes he attempted, won all three duels he was involved in and made three recoveries.
It was the epitome of not putting a foot wrong.
Casey’s a fine young player and could be the next big thing to emerge through the ranks at Elland Road over the next three years now that his contract is sorted.
In other Leeds United news, has Bielsa made a U-turn on this 23-year-old?