Leeds secure loan signing of Villarreal winger Alfonso Pedraza

Championship promotion hopefuls Leeds United have this afternoon confirmed on their official website the signing of Alfonso Pedraza on loan until the end of the season.

The Villarreal winger spent the first half of the campaign on loan at La Liga 2 outfit Lugo, yet he has cut that short to join up with Garry Monk’s side at Elland Road.

The 20-year-old, who netted six goals and laid on eight assists in 23 league games for Lugo this term, will spend the rest of the season in Yorkshire with a view to a permanent deal in the summer, which reportedly will be triggered should the Whites get promoted from the second tier this season.

The Spanish Under-21 international was not signed early enough to be eligible for their trip to Blackburn Rovers tomorrow night (7.45pm kick-off), yet is likely to make his full debut in the Yorkshire derby against fellow high-flyers Huddersfield Town on Sunday.

Pedraza is clearly a talented player who can make a difference in the final third, and Leeds fans will be hoping that he has the ability to help the fire the club back to the Premier League, 13 years after they were relegated from the top-flight.

Leeds are fourth in the Championship having won 16 of their 28 league games, but know that victory over Owen Coyle’s Blackburn on Wednesday could put them to within four points of the automatic promotion places.