Kiko Casilla joins La Liga side Elche on season-long loan

Leeds United have announced that goalkeeper Kiko Casilla has joined La Liga outfit Elche CF on loan until the end of the season.

The 34-year-old, whose £40k-a-week contract runs until 2023, has made just five appearances for the club since being handed an eight-match ban in February 2020 for racially abusing Charlton striker Jonathan Leko during a league game earlier in the 19/20 campaign.

France U23 international Illan Meslier has since claimed and held down the first team place between the sticks, although his 34-year-old counterpart did make a handful of appearances last season, and was controversially named captain in the League Cup defeat to Hull City.

The Champions League winner joined the Whites on a free transfer from Real Madrid in January 2019, and would prove divisive among fans for his eccentric style of goalkeeping. He remained in the first team despite making a costly error in the Championship play-off semi-final defeat to Derby County at the end of the 18/19 season.

Graham Smyth of the Yorkshire Evening Post has already claimed that Leeds will look to sign a replacement to provide backup for 21-year-old Meslier. Marcelo Bielsa’s side were previously linked with Angus Gunn, who has since joined newly-promoted Norwich City from Southampton.