Leeds United are right to be extremely proud of the academy set up they have developed at Thorp Arch. The Whites have invested heavily in their youth pathway and Monday night’s success for the Under-21s was just the latest example of such a strategy paying dividends.
Paco Gallardo’s side have enjoyed a season to remember in Premier League 2 Division 2, topping the division for much of the campaign before turning in a performance that was beyond dominant against Nottingham Forest in the play-off final. That 3-0 win was enough to seal promotion back to the top flight of English youth football at the first time of asking and achieve the target the youth side set themselves at the start of the season.
More than 12,000 fans attended the game at Elland Road and many stuck around to watch the U21s squad lift the play-off winners’ shield and douse themselves in alcohol-free champagne. It was a moment those who have been involved heavily in youth set-up this season will cherish for the rest of their careers, a reward for all their hard work.
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Ask any member of the U21s coaching staff, though, and they will tell you that while results on the field and silverware are great, it’s not the main objective. Developing players capable of eventually making the leap to the first-team is what the academy prides itself on most and they have a decent track record of doing exactly that lately.
Joe Gelhardt, Crysensio Summerville and Sam Greenwood are the most recent examples of players finding homes for themselves within the senior dressing room. On the back of this season alone, though, it seems they could be joined by even more homegrown talent next season.
Of course, given Leeds’ precarious position in the Premier League table, there are plenty of unknowns when it comes to looking ahead to next season. Whatever division United find themselves in, though, the new manager will surely be keen to run the rule over several talents from the U21s set-up.
Mateo Joseph is the man that stands out as one of the brightest starlets to emerge. The England U20 international, who skippered the U21s for much of the season, has been nominated for this year's PL2 Player of the Season award after bagging 17 goals at youth level this season.
The striker earned himself a taste of senior football this season, making six appearances in total, including three brief outings off the bench in the Premier League, but he’ll rightly have his eyes on more opportunities next time around. Of course, if Leeds were to find themselves in the Championship next season those chances might come a little easier, but whatever happens between now and May 28, Joseph needs more senior minutes to continue his development.
Joseph has only been at Elland Road since January 2022, but the 19-year-old’s progress this season has been exceptional and he’ll almost certainly be in and around the first-team squad come the start of pre-season at the very least. The same can be said for Darko Gyabi, who has seemingly found the PL2 going a little too easy at times this season.
The former Manchester City man’s talent and class has been impossible to ignore in the middle of the park for United. He’s dominated games, dictating play with strength and precise ball control before looking to provide the service for those ahead of him.
The midfielder, who will be joining Joseph in the England squad for the U20 World Cup this month, has sampled life in the first-team with three appearances this season. It’s clear, though, that what Gyabi needs is more opportunities to test himself physically against men next season and few would bet against him taking that step up in his stride.
Sonny Perkins is another who will feel he is ready for more senior involvement. Perkins bagged 12 goals for the U21s this season, hitting the ground running following his switch from West Ham United and carrying that form through the rest of the campaign.
He even managed to grab a goal for the senior side, stepping off the bench to notch a late equaliser in the FA Cup at Cardiff City. He is still waiting to make a league debut for Leeds but he’ll certainly have eyes on that next time around.
Any new coach will be keeping a keen eye on Archie Gray, it seems, too. Gray is still only 17-years-old but his talent has been recognised by Leeds’ last four managers, with Marcelo Bielsa, Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce naming him on their respective benches.
The teenager is still waiting to make a senior appearance but if he continues on his current trajectory, he will earn himself a shot. Finding opportunities in a relegation battle to blood young talent can be tricky given the pressure surrounding every single fixture.
Next season, though, irrespective of how the next two weeks pan out, United have the opportunity to add to their senior squad from within once more.
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