Tottenham player at Thorp Arch in Leeds United transfer update
Tottenham Hotspur younger Roman Egan-Riley is undergoing a trial period with Leeds United Under-21s, according to LUFC Youth.
The unofficial Leeds academy account posted on X (12 January) that the 18-year-old defender, who signed his first professional contract in January 2024, has been taken on trial by the Whites.
Spurs signed Egan-Riley – the brother of Burnley’s CJ Egan-Riley – from Manchester City in 2023, but the teenage centre-back is yet to make his first-team debut in North London.
Several United youngsters have made their bows in senior football so far this season, including defender James Debayo, and Egan-Riley may see Elland Road as a better path to doing the same.
Roman Egan-Riley move to bolster Leeds United defensive ranks
While there’s a clear pecking order of centre-backs in the first team, there remain several options on the fringes to have either come through or been brought in by the academy of late.
Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon are understandably the clear first-choice for Daniel Farke when the German has a fully fit squad at his disposal, with captain Ethan Ampadu the usual stand-in if either is absent.
However, rather than Debayo, Diogo Monteiro or Jeremiah Mullen getting the nod to come in alongside a fit-again Struijk against Harrogate in Saturday’s FA Cup clash, Farke went for experience over youth.
Josuha Guilavogui, who has most often featured as a defensive midfielder in his cameo appearances off the bench since arriving on a free transfer, started the match but had something of a shaky afternoon.
Egan-Riley’s potential signing will only add further centre-back depth to the ranks at Elland Road, but it remains to be seen if Farke will be willing to call upon his young defenders before the end of the season.
In other Leeds news, the Whites’ battle for one highly-rated striker has seen a record-breaking bid thrown into the mix.
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