Paul signed for The Whites at the start the 2007/08 season when he left Newcastle United, the club he had grown up at.

Born in Carlisle, he joined Newcastle's School of Excellence in the summer of 2004 and as a schoolboy he played at Wembley Stadium and also helped his school win the England Under 18 National Cup.

He progressed quickly and was soon in Newcastle's reserve squad where again he impressed and in December 2004 he made his England Under 18 debut against Scotland in a 1-0 win.

Newcastle gave him his first professional contract in the summer of 2005 and he made his senior team debut in December 2006 against Blackburn Rovers. Although a central defender, his debut was at right back.

He scored his first senior team goal for Newcastle in January 2007 in a 3-2 win over Tottenham and his first goal for Leeds came in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy second round tie at Darlington.