Youth is again the direction Leeds United have gone in for their latest goalkeeper with the acquisition of 20-year-old Kristoffer Klaesson.
The move for Klaesson has been mooted for weeks, if not years, with little in the way of denial from Valerenga about director of football Victor Orta’s interest.
The Norwegian has signed a four-year contract at Elland Road after spending this past week in the UK quarantining before his medical could conclude the transfer.
Valerenga agreed to sell their first-choice stopper to United for an undisclosed fee, though reports in Norway suggest it’s around £1.6m rising to £2m, and he arrives two years after Illan Meslier signed as a 19-year-old.
Despite Klaesson’s young age and lack of senior international experience with Norway, the Whites have secured a work permit for him, even with the strict restrictions now in place on foreign moves.
Klaesson’s arrival comes a few weeks after veteran Spaniard Kiko Casilla agreed on a return to his homeland with Elche. It’s a loan Casilla does not expect to return to the UK from.
The signature of the Norway under-21 international on a multi-year contract also suggests there is no future for Casilla at Elland Road now.
Klaesson will wear the number 13 shirt at United and provide stiff competition for Meslier between the sticks.
