Leeds United have signed former France international midfielder Josuha Guilavogui on a short-term contract.
The 34-year-old midfielder — capped seven times by France between 2013 and 2015 — has been a free agent since leaving Bundesliga club Mainz at the end of the 2023-24 season.
The Championship side have been in the market for a midfielder after club captain Ethan Ampadu was ruled out for ten weeks with a left knee ligament injury and Ilia Gruev sustained a significant injury to his right knee.
Guilavogui is most well-known for stints at Saint-Etienne in France and German club Wolfsburg, while he also made seven appearances for Atletico Madrid in the 2013-14 season.
Leeds’ move to sign Guilavogui comes after former West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate was on trial with the club.
Earlier this month, Leeds manager Daniel Farke said the club were hoping to sign a midfielder as a free agent.
“I spoke about the situation before,” Farke said. “I never confirm names and I will not speak about a player not under contract to us or are free agents. We are short in numbers. Injuries in midfield left us looking at the free agents and I can confirm that we had a deeper look at guests in the last days here.
“We need to add experience and they need to accept when our key men come back they are the first choices. They have to accept they are back-up solutions. They should want to help our young players.
“We need someone who has that right mentality. This is what we are searching for. I am carefully optimistic we will add someone in the next days or weeks.”
Leeds return to action on Saturday with an away Championship match against Bristol City.
(Image: Leeds United)
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