Illan Meslier signs new 5-year deal with Leeds United

Leeds United have today confirmed that Illan Meslier has signed a new 5-year deal, keeping him at the club until 2026, an improvement on the original deal that had him at the club until 2023.

The improved contract comes as a result of the 21-year olds brilliant debut season in the Premier League, in which he kept 11 clean sheets on his way to helping Leeds to finish 9th — the most clean sheets in Premier League history from a keeper under the age of 21.

His clean sheet total was one of a number of records broken by the French Under-21 international. He was also the youngest goalkeeper in Europe to start more than 10 matches and the first-ever Premier League goalkeeper to make 25 starts before his 21st birthday.

Signed on loan from FC Lorient in 2019, Meslier was initially brought in to deputise for the more experienced Kiko Casilla. The lengthy ban for Casilla put Meslier at the forefront, however, and the young keeper’s performances since then have propelled him into the clear first choice.

Since then Meslier has established himself as one of the most exciting talents in the Premier League and has rightly garnered interest from pundits and rival clubs for his calmness in possession and some world-class shot-stopping.

The new deal should swathe off any interest from Europe’s elite whilst rightly recognising Meslier’s rapid development since his original contract was signed.

Let us know in the comments what you think of Meslier’s new deal! or you can tweet us @throughItAllTogether.