Leeds’ hopes of signing centre-back Matthew Pennington on a long-term deal were scuppered on Friday as he signed a new three-year deal with Everton.
The Yorkshire Evening Post claimed that Leeds were keen on the defender after he did enough to impress while at Elland Road.
Pennington, who had spent the season on loan with Leeds – a period that only delivered in fits and bursts after injury problems – will now try to step up to the Premier League for next season.
The news of his three-year deal was announced on the Everton Twitter page on Friday and soon after Pennington sent a message thanking everyone at Leeds for the past 12 months.
✍️ | A similar feeling as this for @mpennington94, who's signed a new three year contract with the club!
👉 https://t.co/CJzfDkYpt2 #EFC pic.twitter.com/urmzfgt8BH
— Everton (@Everton) May 11, 2018
Pennington impressed both clubs but the same can’t be said for the Leeds fans who’ve watched him over the previous campaign.
They don’t think he’ll make it after what they’ve seen of him this season, with some wishing him luck but most glad they dodged a bullet by not signing him.
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Here are the best reactions from bemused Leeds fans after the deal was announced:
Good luck to the lad. Just like Barkley, we did our best to make him bad but Everton saw thru us!
— LEEDS UNITED MAD (@LeedsUnited_MAD) May 11, 2018
Effort is there but an absolutely horrendous footballer , his reading of the game for a centre half is truly appalling ,
— bren longy (@brenlongy81) May 11, 2018
Can’t say I’m especially sorry. Good luck to him and all, but he’s a spectacularly average defender we don’t really need. Plus, he was only ever keeping that number 5 warm for Bartley!
— Bobby (@bobby_wilson1) May 11, 2018
Thank god for that Phil, been absolute pants
— Benny 💙💛 (@BennyTaylsLUFC) May 11, 2018
Pennington goes back and we sign Bartley. Best trade since I got a Charizard for Pidgey
— Deano (@DeanoBF) May 11, 2018
Start as we mean to go on with the good news this summer. He’s been very average.
— Stephen Foster (@stephenfoster81) May 11, 2018
Praise the lord 🙌🏻
— Jake Wigmore (@Jaakkeey) May 11, 2018
I'm quite surprised at that based on his spell with us, didn't think he was that brilliant
— We Are Leeds (@WeAreLeeds1919) May 11, 2018
He was atrocious. Had no positional sense, passing ability or defensive capabilities
— Brian Canavan (@BriBriCanavan) May 11, 2018
Thank God for that, not physically strong enough to play CB in the Championship and his reading of the game is woeful.
— Nige McGarry (@LeedsMagoo) May 11, 2018
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