What's happened to him? - Leeds fans confused by absence of January signing after announcement

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Published on:

09 Feb 2018, 8:02 am

By Richard Parks

Leeds United fans have taken to Twitter to express their confusion at the continued absence of January signing Aapo Halme from the club's Under-23s team. The centre-back was once again absent from the 16-man squad for Friday afternoon's Professional Development League encounter against Nottingham Forest at Thorp Arch. Leeds selected a team announced on their official Twitter account that included three members of the senior side who were thrashed 4-1 against Cardiff City last weekend.

Grot, Romario Vieira & Tom Pearce all play for #lufc U23s today after being on the bench v Cardiff City last time out. https://t.co/vwcVBVOzwi
— Adam Pope (@apopey) February 9, 2018

United announced on their

official website

and social media channels at the start of January that Halme, 19, had secured a switch from Finnish league champions HJK Helsinki for an undisclosed fee and settled the terms of a four-year contract.

✍️ | #LUFC are pleased to confirm the transfer of 19 year old Aapo Halme from Finnish side HJK Helsinki on a four year contract

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/k2vjAktQ4b pic.twitter.com/WvqsM0Nkw9
— Leeds United (@LUFC) January 3, 2018

The 6ft 4in defender previously played for FC Honka and Klubi-04 but moved to HJK in 2015. He has represented Finland at Under-19s level and was a member of the Helsinki side that won the domestic league last October.

The giant centre-back has linked up with Leeds' Under-23s squad despite making 36 senior HJK appearances for the recently crowned Finnish champions. Supporters were hoping to get a good look at Halme in action but his mysterious absence has left them scratching their heads on social media. Here is a selection of the best messages on Twitter:

Involved tomorrow could be a guess considering all the defenders we are missing
— mathew hibbert 💙💛🏆 (@matteohib94) February 9, 2018

Where’s the Finnish lad popey? Halme?
— Bobby (@bobby_wilson1) February 9, 2018

I read Halme is injured.
— Stephen Foster (@stephenfoster81) February 9, 2018

In other Leeds United news, fans have gone into meltdown after it has been confirmed that the club have bid "extraordinary" sum of up to £12million for goal machine.
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Leeds United

Aapo Halme