Leeds have announced the signing of defender Matthew Pennington on a season-long loan from Everton.
The 22-year-old centre-half has teamed up with the Leeds squad on their summer tour to Austria and could make his debut against Borussia Monchengladbach on Thursday.
"Leeds are pleased to announce that central defender Matthew Pennington has joined the club on a season-long loan from Premier League outfit Everton," Leeds said on their official website.
Pennington is Leeds' ninth summer signing since head coach Thomas Christiansen was appointed last month.
Delighted to sign for Leeds United on loan for the season! Thanks for all the welcome messages, can't wait to get started! #MOT @LUFC pic.twitter.com/BI59LCFy7n
— Matthew Pennington (@mpennington94) July 19, 2017
Christiansen has been on the hunt for a central defender since Kyle Bartley returned to parent club Swansea following his season-long loan at Elland Road and Pennington will vie with Pontus Jansson and Liam Cooper for a starting place.
Leeds have also been linked with Bristol City centre-half Aden Flint, but Robins boss Lee Johnson confirmed at the weekend that no offers had been received for the player.
Pennington progressed through Everton's academy and, after making his Premier League debut towards the end of the 2015-16 season, has made a total of nine first-team appearances.
He scored for Everton in the Merseyside derby defeat at Anfield in April and has also had loan spells at Tranmere, Coventry and Walsall.
Leeds have signed Mateusz Klich, Felix Wiedwald, Vurnon Anita, Caleb Ekuban, Samuel Saiz and Ezgjan Alioski since Christiansen arrived last month and have turned the loan spells of Hadi Sacko and Jansson into permanent deals.
