Weston McKennie joins Leeds United on loan

• Leeds United have completed the signing of Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie on loan until the end of the season. 
• Weston McKennie underwent his medicals on Monday before signing a contract with Leeds United

Leeds United have completed the signing of Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie. The 24-year-old American joins Leeds on loan until the end of the 2022-23 season. 

Leeds will pay an initial fee of €1.25 million for McKennie’s transfer. The Premier League club also have the option to make Weston McKennie’s transfer permanent at the end of the season for €34.5 million. However, this will depend on whether Leeds avoid relegation to the Championship.

Weston McKennie has joined Leeds on loan. Photo/ The Sun.

Weston McKennie underwent his medicals on Monday before signing a contract with Leeds United. He has been handed the number 28 shirt at Leeds. 

The USA international is Leeds’ third signing in the January transfer window. His arrival follows that of Georginio Rutter and Max Wober. 

McKennie had attracted the attention of several Premier League clubs this winter transfer window. However, he opted to join Leeds, where he will play alongside fellow American players Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams. 

Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie have a well-documented close relationship, which hopefully will be crucial in Leeds United’s midfield. 

The McKennie deal is the latest signing Leeds have made this window in preparations for the remainder of the 2022-23 Premier League season. 

Weston McKennie is known for his tenacity, and that’s something Leeds fans expect to see from him as soon as he makes his debut. The talented midfielder could play his first game this coming weekend when Leeds travel to City Ground to face Nottingham Forest. 

Weston McKennie began his career in Europe at Shalke 04. After about five years with the German team, he joined Juventus on loan in the summer of 2020. The move made him the first male footballer to ever play for Juventus. 

McKennie had a strong first season under manager Andrea Pirlo. The midfielder perfectly fitted in Pirlo’s hybrid formation and high-pressure play. He was one of Juventus’ best players during the first half of the 2020-21 season. However, a rib injury changed everything as he struggled to regain his good form. 

Despite impressing fans in the first half of last season under manager Massimiliano Allegri, he still didn’t do the magic he did in his first season. He suffered an injury during last season’s UEFA Champions League round of 16 clash with Villareal, forcing him to stay out for three months. 

Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Weston McKennie has scored three goals in all competitions for the Old Lady. He leaves the Italian giants after helping them win Supercoppa Italiana Italia in 2021. The star midfielder has left Juventus after making 91 appearances and scoring 13 goals in all competitions. 

Weston McKennie has so far made 41 senior appearances for the United States. He started in all games the United States played at the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Weston McKennie has 41 senior international caps for the United States. Photo/ Goal.com.