Top soccer reporter Fabrizio Romano confirmed on Saturday that Weston McKennie will leave Juventus for the rest of the season to join Leeds United on loan. The move does include the option for Leeds to buy McKennie permanently.
The loan move cost Leeds roughly $1.3 million and the set option to buy price is $35.8 million.
Weston McKennie Leeds Loan
Weston McKennie to Leeds, here we go! Understand Leeds will pay €1.2m loan fee — deal will include buy option clause for €33m plus add ons ⚪️ #LUFC
Leeds president Radrizzani unlocked the deal with Juventus in the night.McKennie has agreed personal terms with Leeds. pic.twitter.com/mY1g6Fuql0
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 28, 2023
Weston McKennie will travel to England in the next 24h to undergo medical test and sign the contract as new Leeds Utd player. ⚪️✈️ #LUFC
€1.2m loan fee, €33m plus add-ons as buy option, personal terms agreed.Move confirmed ✅ #USMNT pic.twitter.com/zb36cMJTkK
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 28, 2023
Leeds wasn’t the only team in the market for McKennie as there were initial rumors of a move to Arsenal. Nottingham Forest and Fulham were also reportedly interested in acquiring the 24-year-old midfielder.
When American manager Jesse Marsch arrived at Leeds in February 2022 there wasn’t a single USMNT player on the roster. Fast forward a year and Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson and now McKennie are all likely to be starters.
McKennie leaves behind a Juventus team with an uncertain future. The 36-time Serie A champions were recently deducted 15 points for issues surrounding the club’s transfer history.
The investigation into Juve’s financial fraud could come back to haunt the American midfielder. Italian journalist Paolo Ziliani posted a report that claimed McKennie was one of 23 Juventus players who allegedly accepted to falsely lower their wages. If this turns out to be true, he could receive a 30+ day ban regardless of what club he plays for.
Tutti squalificati. Per almeno un mese. In questo campionato. Forse già a breve. E sì, lo so, non è una notizia di poco conto. I media italiani tremano al pensiero di darla, ma forse è il caso di non fare gli schizzinosi: almeno si evitano svenimenti come per il -15 (1. segue) pic.twitter.com/435Kn6HUS5
— Paolo Ziliani (@ZZiliani) January 24, 2023
Financial issues aside, McKennie joins a Leeds United team in desperate need of help. The Premier League relegation battle is incredibly tight with three points separating 20th Southampton and 14th Leicester City. Leeds sits one spot behind Leicester with 18 points from 19 league games.
How Marsch utilizes McKennie will be interesting to see. The USMNT midfielder is a versatile player that can play almost anywhere. During his time at Schalke, he played nearly every position including striker, center back, right back, right midfield, center midfield and an attacking midfielder role.
Marsch typically uses a 4-2-3-1 formation. USA fans will have their fingers crossed that McKennie and Adams play alongside each other in the midfield.
His debut for the club could come as early as Sunday, Feb. 5 when Leeds faces Nottingham Forest. Hopefully we see some of this McKennie magic.
Throwback to Weston McKennie scoring a Champions League GOLAZO against Barcelona in the Camp Nou
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) January 26, 2023
What a goal. What a player. Weston McKennie in the best form of his young career right now. #USMNT
pic.twitter.com/qhBlT7arZU— Doug McIntyre (@ByDougMcIntyre) January 12, 2022
WESTON MCKENNIE HEADER IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!
(via @CBSSportsGolazo)— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 6, 2022
WESTON MCKENNIE FINDS MOISE KEAN.
Juventus waste no time taking the lead over Monza with a ticket to the Coppa Italia quarterfinals on the line. pic.twitter.com/52MEPBPW7N— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 19, 2023
