Leeds sign defender Ben White on season long loan from Brighton

Leeds United have signed 21-year-old defender Ben White on a season long loan from Brighton & Hove Albion. White, who cane through the youth ranks at Brighton, is primarily a centre back but can also play at right back. He made his professional debut on 9th August 2016 against over Colchester United in the EFL Cup and made his second appearance away against Oxford United in the next round. Despite a handful of appearances for Brighton in the EFL Cup and EFL Trophy he needed a couple of loan spells to make his mark in the league.

White’s first loan spell came at Newport County where he racked up 51 appearances, 42 of which came in League Two. Perhaps for Leeds United fans his most memorable game for Newport will have been in the third round of the 2017-2018 FA Cup when he featured in the 2-1 victory over Leeds. He also played in the next round as Newport held Spurs to a 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade. White impressed at Newport with the Exiles boss Mike Flynn predicting he will play for England one day.





For the second half of last season White went out on loan to Peterborough United. He made his debut on 5th January 2019 in a 5-0 loss away at Middlesbrough in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. His first match at the ABAX Stadium, also his first League One appearance, came on 12th January as an 88th minute substitute in a 2-1 victory over Rochdale. White totalled 15 League One appearances for Peterborough scoring one goal. Posh fans seem to rate White stating he has bags of potential, is cool and composed on the ball and likes to play it out from the back so he should fit in well.

Both Spurs and Liverpool are rumoured to have been tracking White, Leeds are said to have looked at White last summer but ultimately was passed up by Marcelo Bielsa. That decision may have been regretted given the injuries sustained last season and although the Championship will be a step up from his previous league experience he will be a useful addition to the squad in an area where Leeds lacked cover in depth.