Cody Drameh is Leeds United's latest youthful recruit as Whites look to long term

As expected, defender Cody Drameh has joined from Fulham on a four-year contract, and he arrives hoping Marcelo Bielsa can do for his game what he did for Bernard Mendy's.

Drameh has arrived for an undisclosed fee believed to start at around £400,000 and potentially rise to £1m.

Although he is yet to make his senior debut, he did play three times for the Cottagers' development side in last season's Football League Trophy, and has three England Under-18 caps.

The speedy Drameh is seen primarily as a right-back, and has drawn comparisons with left-sided Fulham product Ryan Sessegnon and Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, but he has the sort of versatility Leeds coach Bielsa likes, having played in a wide variety of positions throughout his footballing education. The thought of continuing that development under the world-renowned Bielsa is thought to have been a big factor in persuading the Londoner to move north a year before the end of his Fulham contract.

“A lot of players have made their debuts over the past few years under Bielsa," he commented.

“I’m looking to add my name to that list. He’s managed a lot of big, big names. The one I was interested in was Benjamin Mendy.

“The way he transformed him (at Marseille), obviously I am a full-back so hopefully he can do similar with me and improve me like that

"It was a huge factor for me. I’m just really excited to work with him.”

Left-back Mendy went from Marseille to Monaco, then a £52m move to Manchester City, where injuries have stunted his progress.

Whilst continuing to look for big-hitting players who can raise the quality of the squad as they step up to the Premier League, Leeds also have one eye on the longer term. Drameh follows 18-year-old centre-forward Joe Gelhardt and 16-year-old midfielder Charlie Allen in arriving at Elland Road in a week which has seen Jack Harrison sign up to a third successive season-long loan from Manchester City, and young midfielders Mateusz Bogusz and Jamie Shackleton commit to longer deals.

"I can’t wait to get started," said Drameh.

“I’ve got a great engine and a lot of stamina. I like to get up and down the pitch. I can defend well.

“I might need a bit of improvement in attack but that’s what I’m here for, to work under the coaching staff at Leeds and get better.

“First and foremost I want to break into the first team and then, let’s see. The club has ambition - I want to win a few trophies while I’m here.”

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