REVEALED: Weston McKennie’s Leeds move ‘will become a permanent $37m switch if he makes 10 appearances this season and Jesse Marsch’s side avoid relegation’ from the Premier League
Leeds United has added yet another American to its Premier League squad, after securing a loan move for US international midfielder Weston McKennie from Italian Serie A side, Juventus.
The Whites signed the 24-year-old for the remainder of the season on a $1.6million loan fee with a $37 million option to buy automatically triggered if Leeds avoid relegation and if McKennie makes more than 10 appearances for his new club over the course of the next six months, according to football transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
McKennie will also see his salary increase from $3.47million from last season at Juventus to ‘well over $4.5million’ at Leeds, per La Gazzette dello Sport. The former Schalke man was spotted undergoing his medical in West Yorkshire on Monday morning before his representatives all but confirmed the move on Instagram later on.
Weston McKennie’s representatives all but confirmed the American signed with Leeds on loan
McKennie played for Juventus in Serie A since 2020 but always dreamed of playing in England
Leeds’ American manager Jesse Marsch will be thrilled to have finally agreed a deal for his compatriot following competition from Nottingham Forest and Fulham for McKennie’s signature.
The player was also rumored with a temporary switch to Arsenal and Aston Villa.
McKennie has previously stated that it was his ‘childhood dream’ to play in the Premier League and now sees a reunion with USMNT teammates Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams as the perfect opportunity to do so.
The midfielder has started more than half (46) of his 70 appearances for Juventus and has scored nine goals for the Bianconeri since his switch from Schalke in 2020.
The 24-year-old (right) will reunite with US teammates Tyler Adams and Brendan Aaronson
He also started every match for the USA at the Qatar World Cup, as the Stars and Stripes were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Holland. Capped 41 times by his country, McKennie can operate in several positions on the field, proving that his versatility is one of his biggest assets.
The American…