Lewis Pirie signed his first professional contract at Leeds United’s Elland Road today. An image of the youthful attacker signing a contract to stay in Yorkshire has surfaced.
The picture was posted on X by LUFC Youth on February 8. This will be a great boost for the academy team as it follows the development of Leeds academy players, like Carlos Corberan and Phil Hay.
The significant price the clubs paid for Pirie’s entrance indicated their great expectations for his future. Pirie joined the club from Aberdeen in the summer for a rumoured £200,000 transfer fee.
This season, the 17-year-old has made ten appearances for Leeds’ Under-18 team, participating in both the FA Youth Cup and the U18 Premier League. During that time, he has three goals and one assist to his credit.
Leeds United gives new contracts a priority.
His arrival from Aberdeen and the subsequent granting of his first professional contract represent a clear declaration of purpose from Elland Road, where the club is focused on nurturing young players in anticipation of first-team involvement.
Archie Gray, a 17-year-old who came right out of the academy and has made 30 senior games under Daniel Farke this season, is one player who has demonstrated that ambition.
Football clubs have had to focus more on finding young British players since Brexit regulations have made it impossible for them to attract young foreign players because of a work permit procedure that is unlikely to be passed by a 16-year-old international star.
In an attempt to keep him at the club, the Aberdeen academy had extended a professional contract to Pirie. However, after moving to Elland Road, he did not have to wait long for another offer, this time from an English team.
In other Leeds United news, rivals from Yorkshire are aiming to sign one of the team’s stars to a long-term contract.
