Leeds United announced on Tuesday that they had completed a deal for Junior Firpo, with the full-back joining the Premier League club on a four-year contract from Barcelona.
The Whites listed the fee as undisclosed on their website, but it is understood that the English side have paid in the region of £13m to acquire the left-sided defender.
Leeds had been in the market for a new left-back this summer following Ezgjan Alioski's departure, and Firpo has become the team's third signing of the summer after Jack Harrison and Amari Miller.
The former Spain Under-21s international could, in theory, make his competitive debut for the Whites against Manchester United on the first weekend of the new Premier League season.
Here, Sports Mole has taken a closer look at Firpo, who is expected to be involved in his new club's pre-season friendlies later this month.
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Firpo, who was born in the Dominican Republic before moving to Spain at the age of six, joined Real Betis's youth team at the age of 18 from Puerto Malagueno.
Just eight months after arriving at the club, the defender made his debut for Real Betis B, featuring against Granada B in the Segunda Division B, before being promoted to the reserve side on a full-time basis ahead of the 2015-16 campaign.
In total, Firpo made 44 appearances for Betis B, and after spending pre-season ahead of the 2016-17 campaign training with the first-team squad, he went on to make his senior debut in February 2018, becoming the first player born in the Dominican Republic to turn out in La Liga.
The left-back featured on 43 occasions for Betis, contributing five goals and seven assists in the process, and his form in Seville attracted the attention of Barcelona, who signed him in August 2019 to provide competition for Jordi Alba.
Firpo penned a five-year contract upon his arrival at Camp Nou but would end up lasting just two years, having failed to make a serious impression for the Catalan giants.
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The former Spain Under-21s international actually played 23 times during the 2019-20 campaign but was restricted to 18 appearances last term, with just seven of those outings coming in Spain's top flight.
Firpo played six times in the Champions League last season, though, totalling 253 minutes, and he will bring top-level experience with him to Elland Road.
The former Betis youngster showed his versatility by operating as a right-back and a left-sided midfielder last term, but he has been signed by Marcelo Bielsa's side as a left-back.
Firpo has already said that he is looking forward to playing under Bielsa, who had two spells working in Spain's top flight as the manager of Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao.
"I know the coach that he is, and for me he is a really good coach. He wants to press all the time, play one against one many times, and for me that's my football. Physical football, running, having the ball, for me it's not a problem and I think he will help me go to another level," the defender said upon his arrival at Leeds.
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In many ways, Firpo is perfect for Bielsa's style of football, and his pace, power and strength down the left could be a huge threat for Leeds next season, as the club look to build on an impressive 2020-21.
For little under £13m, it is a gamble worth taking, particularly considering his age, and it will be fascinating to see how the defender performs in the Premier League next season.
Firpo will be asked to defend one on one on a number of occasions throughout each match due to his new club's style of football, but he will also be expected to contribute down the other end of the field.
The defender is believed to have rejected a number of other top-level clubs to move to Elland Road, and he could end up being one of the smartest signings of the entire transfer window.
Matt Law
