28 May 2025 09:14:04
Diego Leon, Paraguayan full back. have we signed him or not? Haven't seen anything confirming it anywhere yet I thought it was all done and agreed in January according to numerous reports. Any of the Ed's clear this up?

1.) 28 May 2025
28 May 2025 09:36:05
I thought it was a done deal in January
so i think it's confirmed already?

2.) 28 May 2025
28 May 2025 09:39:12
i think he's joining in july.

3.) 28 May 2025
28 May 2025 09:44:29
Deal couldn't complete until he turned 18. I think it is expected to finalise next month.

4.) 28 May 2025
28 May 2025 10:37:37
It's all wrapped up and agreed. He will join in July. He couldn't officially sign/ move to us until April at the earliest as that's when he turned 18 and we can't sign players from other countries until they are adults. Previously we could sign European players under 18 when we were part of the EU, but we haven't been able do that since Brexit.

Diego Leon turned 18 on the 3rd of April, as the transfer window was closed at that time he will join when it reopens.

The club would have the same issue if they wanted to push to sign Franco Mastantuono, he doesn't turn 18 until the 14th of August, so he cannot sign for a European club before then. A deal could be agreed, but he can't move until he's an adult. Meaning if we were to sign him he couldn't join the squad until late in the window, missing the entire pre-season tour and preseason training with the next season starting on the 16th of August, at best he'd have been able to have one day training with the team before our first fixture.

As for Diego Leon, I'd expect him to maybe go on the tour, then spend most of next season in the academy/ under 21's to acclimatise to English football. With him unlikely to play in the first team until the end of next season at the earliest most likely.

5.) 28 May 2025
28 May 2025 11:56:40
Thanks to all for clarifying that. Looks a good prospect and at a position of need in lb. The less we rely on shaw the better!

6.) 28 May 2025
28 May 2025 19:03:34
Leon for his development should either go on loan or just train with the squad next year. I've zero expectation that he'd be part of the first team squad next season.