Raphinha completes deadline-day switch to Leeds United

The Whites have been searching for another winger to complement loanee Jack Harrison, Helder Costa, Ian Poveda and Ezgjan Alioski.

They were linked with Manchester United's Daniel James - who they came extremely close to signing in January 2019 - Dijon's Mounir Chouiar and Rodrigo de Paul, who could also fill the hole in their squad for an attacking midfielder, but have settled on 23-year-old Raphinha.

The undisclosed fee Leeds have parted with is thought to be around £15.5m up front, with a further £5.5m due in add-ons. The player has signed a four-year contract.

Rennes paid Sporting Lisbon £18m for Raphinha a little over 12 months ago. He has started the season in good form, with two assists and a goal in six matches.

He has mainly been used as a right-winger but can also play on the left, and at centre-forward.

The Ligue 1 club have qualified for this season's Champions League group stages and there were reports in France on Thursday night which suggested that Raphinha had hoped to stay for at least another year.

Raphinha has Europa League experience with Vitoria and Sporting CP, as well as Rennes.

Late on international deadline day Raphinha followed forward Rodrigo and central defenders Robin Koch and Diego Llorente in moving to Elland Road in this window. The Whites have also added a slew of teenage players viewed as signings for the longer term.

They seem unlikely to sign the cover they had targeted for 35-year-old Pablo Hernandez but deals for Football League players are still possible until 5pm on October 16, and Norwich City's Todd Cantwell has been heavily linked.

Leeds were very close to a deal for Bayern Munich's Michael Cuisance on Thursday only for it to collapse, reportedly over concerns about his medical. The Frenchman has tonight joined Marseille on a season-long loan.