PEARCE AGREES PROFESSIONAL TERMS

PEARCE AGREES PROFESSIONAL TERMS

United youngster puts pen to paper at Elland Road...

Youngster Tom Pearce has agreed his first professional contract with the club after progressing through the Leeds United Academy scholarship programme at Thorp Arch.

Pearce, a left-footer who is equally as comfortable playing at full-back or on the wing, penned a one-year deal at Elland Road to become the latest Academy prospect to turn professional.

The 18-year-old, who arrived at the club from Everton in 2014, featured regularly for our Under-18s last term, scoring eight times in his 26 appearances for the United youngsters.

Pearce also scored once in his four outings with the Under-21s, and his displays for the club’s youth teams have been rewarded with professional terms, which will come into play later this summer.

“It feels great, it’s a dream come true,” Pearce told leedsunited.com.

“It’s all I thought about as a kid, becoming a professional footballer.

“I first found out about a month ago and I’m really happy now it’s actually happened.

“I got my head down this season and worked hard because I wanted this.

“It’s a great club for young players coming through. As a lot of people have shown, you’ll get a chance if you do well enough.

“I’m just hoping to play a lot of Under-21s football next season and see where that takes me.”

Asked about his style of play, Pearce added: “I think I’m a direct player, I can play left-back or as a winger. I like to play with confidence.

“I’ve scored a few free-kicks this season as well, which is something I work on a lot.”

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