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Highly-rated Fabian Delph signed a new four-year contract with Leeds United on Friday.

The 18-year-old has been attracting attention with his performances this season and Leeds have moved quickly to secure his services before Chelsea hear about him (or Wise’s Newcastle United!)

Gary McAllister spoke to the official Leeds United website about the deal and admitted there had been clubs sniffing around already:

“There’s been a lot of exciting things happen in the world of football this week what with West Ham, Newcastle and Manchester City, but the most exciting thing for me is securing Fabian Delph on a four-year deal”

“He’s someone we rate highly. It’s an opportunity for us to work with him and a great opportunity for him.

“There’s been a lot of high profile interest in Fabian which has been kept quiet.

“There’s been some big clubs asking about his availability, but this has sent out a message.

“The club is moving forward now. We recognise producing our own is one way to do that, and he is a fantastic product of the Academy.

“He has to keep moving forward. He has some good people here advising him, and it’s up to him.

“He has a big armoury. He’s a young man, and you tend to improve with age.

“As a former midfielder I’ll pass on anything I can to help him.

“This also sends out a message to the other players in our Academy that If you’re good enough you’ll progress into the first team.”

The official Leeds United website has published this season’s Leeds United squad numbers.

1 Casper Ankergren
2 Frazer Richardson
3 Paul Huntington
4 Jonathan Douglas
5 Rui Marques
6 Lubo Michalik (#33 last season)
7 David Prutton
8 Neil Kilkenny
9 Jermaine Beckford
10 Luciano Becchio
11 Alan Sheehan (#32 last season)
12 David Lucas (#25 last season)
14 Jonny Howson
15 Fabian Delph
16 Bradley Johnson
17 Scott Gardner
18 Andy Robinson
19 Ben Parker (#26 last season)
20 Tresor Kandol
21 Enoch Showunmi
22 Andrew Hughes
23 Robert Snodgrass
24 Peter Sweeney
25 Alan Martin (#12 last season)
29 Tom Elliott
30 Jonathan Lund (not in last squad)
35 Seb Carole (#17 last season)
37 Ian Westlake (#11 last season)
38 Seb Sorsa
40 Curtis Weston
41 Rob Bayly (#18 last season)

New signings since last season are in bold.

No one seems to have wanted the number 13 shirt!

Leeds United manager Gary McAllister has left seven senior players out of the squad to tour Ireland this week.

Killa's off to the Olympics

Left behind are Anthony Elding, Seb Carole, Curtis Weston and Ian Westlake, who are all available for transfer.

Tresor Kandol is absent through illness.

Neil Kilkenny is preparing to join the Olyroos preparing for the Beijing Olympics.

Fabian Delph is on England international duty. The Bradford-born midfielder is in the Czech Republic for the under-19’s European Championship.

Meanwhile new signing Enoch Showunmi and Canadian trialist Marcus Haber, also a striker, are included in the party.

Here’s the full travelling squad for the pre-season tour of the Republic of Ireland:
Ankergren, Lucas, Martin, Gardner, Richardson, Michalik, Huntington, Marques, Bayly, Sheehan, Parker, Douglas, Howson, Prutton, Hughes, Johnson, Sweeney, Robinson, Beckford, Showunmi, Haber.

Leeds United Academy players Chris Ovington and Matty Edwards have signed initial one year professional contracts.

Both are 17 years-old and were regulars in the Leeds United under-18s side in the 2007-08 season - Chris, an attacking midfielder was second top-scorer with nine goals from 22 starts.

Goalkeeper Matty also made five appearances for the reserves while Chris scored for the reserves twice in 13 appearances.

More Academy players are expected to be offered contracts next week.