Stuart McKinstry confirmed as Leeds United scholar

With all the excitement at the end of last season it may have slipped by unnoticed that Stuart McKinstry signed up for a two-year scholarship with Leeds United back in April.

The move for Motherwell right-winger Stuart McKinstry was tipped in the Scottish press back in January and after some competition from Southampton the 16-year-old finally signed on as a Leeds United scholar in April. Reports claim Leeds have paid an initial £150,000 for McKinstry, which could rise to an overall deal of £250,000. Son of former Motherwell player John McKinstry, he is considered a promising young talent, a tricky winger who combines pace with a direct approach and a threat in front of goal.

McKinstry is yet to make his professional debut, he was named on the bench for the first time in Motherwell's 1-0 defeat against Kilmarnock on Boxing Day but Scotland have already come calling. McKinstry made his debut for the Scotland U17 side in a 2-1 win against Hungary back in February, scoring Scotland’s second and walking away with the man of the match award. He will hope to follow in the footsteps of other youth players signed by Leeds such as Leif Davis and Tom Pearce who have gone on to feature in the first team.

On social media Motherwell fans said of McKinstry; He’s just 17 so still a lot of development to go through but a highly rated prospect and was expected to do very well. Will be an asset to any team, our loss is definitely your gain.




Footage of Scotland’s U17 victory against Hungary including Stuart McKinstry’s debut goal