Leeds United make Nigerian teenager Leonard Ngenge their first Premier League signing

ENGLISH Championship leaders Leeds United have signed a pre-contract agreement with Nigerian teenage fullback Leonard Ngenge in preparation for next season when the club will be back playing in the Premier League.

Leeds are currently top of the English Championship with just 10 games to go and look certain to return to the Premier League. Knowing that they need to beef up their squad to stay up, Leeds have already begun scouting for fresh talent and Ngenge, the Ikorodu City youngster has become their first signing.

Ngenge, 17, will join Leeds during the summer transfer window, initially joining the Under-18s squad before gradually moving up to the U21s. Fifa rules prohibit players joining English clubs under the age of 18 but by the time Ngenge's contract with the Ikorodu City expires, the left-footed defender will have turned 18.

Considered a bright young prospect Ngenge, has played 18 senior games for Ikorodu City this season and can play as a centre-back or at left-back. He scored his first professional goal in a 2-0 victory over Heartland of Owerri at the start of the month.

Ikorodu City's sporting director Wale Quadri said: “Ngenge has an existing deal with Leeds United. It’s a pre-contract and by August he should be joining Leeds. He was scouted in Nigeria and then invited to Leeds for further training.

“He came back like two weeks ago from Leeds. That should be his second visit to Leeds. He is being signed as a player for the future. They are waiting for him to turn 18."

Whether Ngenge  will be fast-tracked straight into his first-team for next season remains to be seen. Leeds were in competition with Hammarby IF for his signature, but the Championship side have now stolen a march on their Swedish rivals and the teenaged is set to move to England in the summer.