FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Leeds United v Leicester City - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - April 25, 2023 General view of a corner flag inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo
Alfie Cresswell, a young defender, signed his first professional deal with Leeds United a few days after his older brother departed the team.
Whites could have another Cresswell in the first team ranks next season after 17-year-old Alfie signed a three-year contract, the team confirmed the news on their official website on July 17.
Cresswell was a regular feature at centre-back for the club’s under-18 side last season, starting in the FA Youth Cup Final defeat to Manchester City, and also made his debut for the under-21’s, featuring twice.
The 17-year-old’s elder brother Charlie, who made his first-team debut aged 18 in 2020, was sold to Toulouse on 8 July after making just 14 appearances in all competitions, half of which came last season.
Alfie Cresswell will look to take his chance for Leeds United
Should he make his first-team debut for the Peacocks in the coming years – let alone in the upcoming campaign – Cresswell will become the third member of his family to don the white shirt.
His father Richard played as a striker for the club between 2005 and 2007 scoring 11 times in 44 appearances in all competitions across two seasons before moving to Preston.
Charlie, who is currently 21 years old and a mainstay for England’s under-21 team, will be playing for Toulouse despite only having made 44 appearances for a senior club in his career, 30 of which were in the 2022–2023 season [Beren Cross, 30 June].
Sadly for the elder Cresswell brother’s Elland Road hopes, those thirty came during a loan spell at Millwall, and the fact he hasn’t featured much since indicates that moving away from Elland Road was a sensible decision.
Alfie will aspire to play for the Whites like his father and brother did, but Charlie’s lack of playing time and ultimate exit will serve as a reminder that he needs to show great quality if he wants to be a regular in United’s first squad.
