Leonard "Leo" Duru, who spent last season with Blackburn Rovers' U18s, is an '05 with a U.S. passport, the player confirmed to me. This article says he was born in Manchester and was with Manchester United before joining Rovers on schoolboy terms: https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=43313 The Blackburn move seems to have happened in summer 2021, indicating that he has at least one more year on his youth contract. https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/blackburn-latest-scholar-academy-intake-20992417 This article mentions interest from the U.S., England and Nigeria. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co....sidering-approach-blackburn-rovers-youngster/ Some snaps on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leod_5/?hl=en
Snip: Following in the footsteps of Academy team-mates Charlie Olson, Adam Caddick and Ben Fyles, Duru has signed a one-year pro deal through to June 2024, with the option of an additional 12 months. https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/may/25/pro-deal-for-duru-/
On the bench for the 1st team: 1824793304682185070 is not a valid tweet id He recently made his club debut in the Carabao Cup: 1823700850784493813 is not a valid tweet id
U20 callup: Defenders (7): Noahkai Banks (Augsburg/GER; Dietmannsried, Germany), Noah Cobb (Atlanta United FC; Chattanooga, Tenn.), Leo Duru (Blackburn Rovers/ENG; Manchester, England), Ethan Kohler (Werder Bremen/GER; Campbell, Calif.), Nolan Norris (FC Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas), Oscar Verhoeven (San Jose Earthquakes; Pleasant Hill, Calif.), Joshua Wynder (Benfica/POR; Louisville, Ky.) https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...-team-fifa-u-20-world-cup-host-chile-santiago
Picture from the team website: https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/november/16/rovers-quartet-hoping-for-international-action/ Interview:
Getting to know Leo Duru 1867638525744885979 is not a valid tweet id Also, he's made his Championship debut - promotion? @dark knight @bungadiri @TheFalseNine