Leeds United sign former Liverpool Academy player Madger Gomes

Leeds United have made another signing in the summer transfer window. Former Liverpool Academy player Madger Gomes has signed a three year deal to join the Whites after being released by the Anfield club. Gomes will likely be spending time with the U-23 team, with some opportunities to train with the senior squad according to the club’s official website, leedsunited.com.

Gomes is reportedly a left-footed midfielder and is a signing for the future. Many Liverpool fans were surprised that he was released by the club, as he was seen to have a bright future in football. The Alicante born player was signed by Liverpool in 2014 as a 17 year old from La Liga team Villarreal. An injury forced him to miss time this past season for the Liverpool U-23 team, but he has represented Spain at both the U17 and U18 levels.

While it is concerning that Gomes lost his place in the U23 squad at Liverpool, a number of players have been passed over by youth academies and have gone on to blossom at other clubs. West Ham United’s Michail Antonio, for example, was allowed to move on from AFC Wimbledon because they didn’t want to spend £7 on a registration fee for him, and he’s gone on to earn England caps and is considered a rising star for the East London club, with rumored interest from Chelsea and Manchester United.

While this is not a signing that will set the world on fire, it continues to show a commitment to youth at the club. Rather than focus on selling players for a profit like some previous owners, Andrea Radrizzani has committed to investing in the academy at Leeds. Radrizzani has even said that the primary reason for hiring Ivan Bravo to work at the club was his experience with the youth academy in Qatar. The talent that is coming out of the club’s academy is enough to get the team back into the Premier League, and signings like this will help the Academy produce the players that will sustain the club in the future.