Familial ties with Victor Orta ensured Wilfried Gnonto’s eye never wandered once Leeds United were on the scene for his signature. The 19-year-old arrived from FC Zurich in the final hours of the summer transfer window on September 2, four months ahead of schedule.
The Italy international was sat behind the emergency glass Leeds needed to break as the sands of time ran out on the window. After Cody Gakpo and Bamba Dieng’s moves to Elland Road fell apart at the 11th hour, Orta was left facing the prospect of Daniel James leaving without any replacement arriving.
The Gnonto switch had been all but completed with the Swiss outfit ahead of a January transaction. A few dates were changed on the paperwork, a little extra cash went Letzigrund’s way and Gnonto was on a flight the next day.
