United can now confirm that Giuseppe Bellusci has turned his loan move from Catania into a permanent one.

The 24-year-old central defender is now contracted to the club until June 2018.

The defender was an unused substitute on Tuesday evening when Brighton were the visitors to Elland Road and he will be hoping for his first United appearance this weekend at Watford.

United head coach David Hockaday said: “Giuseppe has come into the club and has made an instant impact with the rest of the squad.

“He is a strong personality with leadership skills. As well as that he is great at organsing and brings added quality into our defence.

“He is an experienced footballer and we are hopeful he can bring all his qualities to the squad.”