Leeds United's youth recruitment drive this summer has continued with the permanent signing of 18-year-old defender Leo Hjelde from Celtic.
The Norwegian joins for an undisclosed fee and signs a four-year contract at Elland Road.
It is expected he will join up with Mark Jackson's under-23 side for the 2021/22 campaign, who are a man light at the back following the departure of Oliver Casey to Blackpool earlier this summer.
Hjelde has been named as a Leeds United transfer target throughout this summer, and with under a week of the window remaining, the club have finally secured their man.
The teenager only turned 18 years old last week, but already has vast senior experience in comparison to his new under-23 teammates.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at Ross County in the Scottish Premiership where he was dubbed the 'next Virgil van Dijk' by Staggies boss John Hughes.
Hjelde is left-footed and plays predominantly as a central defender, but has also been utilised at left-back.
He has international experience with Norway's youth sides at U-16, U-17 and U-18 level.
His addition follows the signings of Amari Miller, Sean McGurk, Lewis Bate and Kristoffer Klaesson who have all made appearances for Mark Jackson's under-23s so far this season.
Hjelde becomes Leeds' seventh signing of the summer across the first-team and under-23s, with the permanent additions of Jack Harrison and Junior Firpo making up the Whites' summer business.
