The next generation are creating a wave of excitement at Leeds United. Sam Greenwood, Crysencio Summerville and Joe Gelhardt are fully-fledged members of the first team, while others are forcing their way into Jesse Marsch's plans.
Sonny Perkins has netted six times in five outings for the U21s and has formed a formidable partnership with Mateo Joseph, who has also notched five goals this term.
Sixteen-year-old Archie Gray looks a very exciting prospect in the heart of midfield and impressed during pre-season with the Whites.
And while we look to the future with optimism, LeedsLive have taken a look back at where the club's academy graduates from the last decade have ended up.
READ MORE: Leeds United 'Academy Dreams' documentary ready to air as Whites supporters set for rare insight
Nohan Kenneh – Hibernian
Born in Liberia, Kenneh moved to the north of England at the age of seven and enjoyed spells at Bradford City and York City at academy level.
He joined Leeds in 2014 and was an unused substitute in 14 matches under Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch respectively. Kenneh joined Hibernian following the expiry of his contract at Leeds and has played nine times for Hibs across all competitions.
The 19-year-old has already opened his goalscoring account in Scotland, albeit in a 2-1 defeat against Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena in August.
Elia Caprile – Bari
Caprile joined Leeds at U21 level from Chievo in January 2020 after playing 65 times for Chievo at U17 and U19 level. The 21-year-old had also received a solitary cap for Italy U18s before his arrival in West Yorkshire.
Bielsa named Caprile among his substitutes on eight occasions but never presented him with his senior debut. Caprile played 19 times for the U21s during the 2020/21 campaign before being loaned to Aurora Pro Patria in the Italian third tier.
He played 39 times across all competitions and helped Aurora secure a play-off spot for the second consecutive season after keeping 13 clean sheets.
Caprile left Leeds for Serie B side Bari on a permanent transfer this summer. He has played in each of Bari’s eight games as they remain the only unbeaten side in the Italian second tier.
Niall Huggins – Sunderland
Huggins was spotted along with Jack Clarke after winning his division with Heworth under-8s in 2009. He spent 11 years at Leeds and was presented with his professional debut from the bench in a 4-2 defeat at Arsenal in February 2021.
The 21-year-old played as a forward for Leeds at U18 level but was converted into a left back with the U23s. He joined Sunderland in the summer of 2021 and made four appearances for the Black Cats until two injuries drew a premature end to his debut season at the Stadium of Light.
It’s been almost a year since Huggins last played and it’s yet to be confirmed when he will be back in action.
Jack Clarke – Sunderland
Clarke was plucked from Heworth along with his teammate Huggins and made his senior debut in a 1-1 draw against Brentford in October 2018 at 17 years of age.
He went onto register two goals and two assists during his debut campaign in 2018-19 under Bielsa. A lucrative move to Tottenham Hotspur followed at the end of the season, although he returned to Elland Road on a season-long loan.
The winger played just 19 minutes as Leeds won the Championship title and secured a return to the Premier League. He played just four times for Tottenham before heading out on loan to Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City respectively.
Clarke dropped down into League One to revive his career and joined Sunderland on loan in January 2022. He helped lead the Black Cats to promotion into the Championship via the play-offs and signed for Sunderland on a permanent basis in the summer.
Oliver Casey – Forest Green Rovers
Leeds-born defender Casey came through the ranks at his hometown club and made one start and two substitute appearances across all competitions for the Whites.
Casey joined Championship outfit Blackpool in the summer of 2021 but was unable to break into their side. He was restricted to eight appearances in total for the Tangerines and went out on loan to Forest Green Rovers to gain valuable playing time this season.
The 21-year-old came off the bench in Rovers’ first two games but has started nine of their last ten games in all competitions.
Lewis Cook – Bournemouth
Cook joined Leeds at academy level at the age of seven in 2004 and was playing for the U18s at just 15 years of age. He broke into the first team during pre-season in 2014 and made his debut in their opening game against Millwall in August 2014.
He went onto become a regular in the heart of midfield for the Whites over the next two seasons. Cook joined Bournemouth in 2016 and has played 157 times for the Cherries.
The 25-year-old earned his only cap for England when he came off the bench for the Three Lions in a 1-1 draw against Italy in March 2018. He won the U17 European Championship and U20 World Cup with England in 2014 and 2017 respectively.
Cook was relegated to the Championship with Bournemouth in 2021 but helped guide them to an immediate return as the Cherries earned automatic promotion last term.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell – Burnley
Peacock-Farrell was released by Middlesbrough in 2013 after spending seven years in their youth system and joined Leeds in 2013. He filled in for the suspended Marco Silvestri to make his first team debut against Queens Park Rangers in April 2016.
He broke into the first team towards the end of the 2017-18 season – playing the final 11 games under Paul Heckingbottom. Peacock-Farrell was named in the Northern Ireland squad in March 2018 and has gone onto make 25 caps for his country.
The 25-year-old retained his place between the sticks when Bielsa took over but was replaced by Kiko Casilla when the Spaniard arrived from Real Madrid in January 2019.
Peacock-Farrell joined Burnley at the end of the 2018-19 season and waited over 16 months for his senior debut. He lost in each of his four Premier League appearances for the Clarets and conceded 14 goals in the process, including four in a 4-0 defeat against Leeds.
The Northern Ireland international spent last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and helped the Owls reach the League One play-offs. Vincent Kompany signed Arijanet Muric from Man City upon Peacock-Farrell's return from Hillsborough and he has been reduced to just two appearances in the current campaign.
Kalvin Phillips – Man City
Phillips is one of the best products to emerge from United’s academy during the 21st century. He joined his hometown club at youth level in 2010 and signed his first professional deal in the summer of 2014.
He was an unused substitute during the second half of the 2014-15 season and was presented his debut in a 4-3 defeat against Wolves in April 2015.
After making a handful of appearances the following season, Phillips became a regular under Garry Monk in 2016-17. Phillips was a crucial cog in the system under Bielsa and played an instrumental role as they won the Championship title in 2020.
The midfielder made his England debut the same year and was at the heart of their success at Euro 2020 as they reached the final in 2021. He was subsequently named England’s player of the year and left Leeds for Man City for a fee of £45million in the summer.
Phillips has played just 13 minutes since joining the Citizens but had to withdraw from England’s latest squad with a shoulder injury.
Charlie Taylor – Burnley
Taylor rose through the ranks at Leeds and made his first team debut from the bench at the age of 17 against Bradford City in the League Cup in August 2011. He went onto make his Championship debut the following month before enjoying loan spells at Bradford, York City, Inverness and Fleetwood Town respectively.
He helped guide Fleetwood to the League Two play-offs and returned from his loan spell to establish himself as a regular at Elland Road. He made 104 appearances for the Whites and was voted the club’s Player of the Year in 2015-16.
The 29-year-old joined Burnley in the Premier League in 2017 and has made 159 appearances for the Clarets across all competitions. He suffered relegation with Burnley last term but has started nine of their 10 games in the Championship this term.
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