Leeds United have announced the signing of young American goalkeeper Charlie Horton on a two-year deal from Championship rivals Cardiff City.
The USA Under-23 goalkeeper has penned a two-year deal at Elland Road after completing his move to the Yorkshire side.
Born in London, Horton moved to America at the age of nine and went on to gain a soccer scholarship at North Carolina University.
Horton had trials at Manchester United and Chelsea after being recommended by former Liverpool and Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel, but later joined Peterborough United in July 2013.
Speaking to the club's official website, Leeds head coach Uwe Rösler said: “We had Charlie on our radar through our goalkeeping coach Richard Hartis, he had worked with him at Cardiff.
“I know the manager and assistant manager of the USA team and they gave him a glowing reference. We’re very happy with him.
“He has fantastic physical attributes and is a really positive character. He really wants to learn.
He worked with Richard Hartis at Cardiff and we appreciate the fact that we can work with him again – that was a big factor in him coming to join us.”
Horton told the club's website: “I’m really excited. Any time you can come to a club like Leeds, where all the players are hungry for success and hungry to move up the table and back to where the club belongs in the Premier League, that’s every player's dream.
“To be a part of that is something I’d love to have on my résumé. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Leeds United as a club.
“I used to grow up when I was young living in England watching Mark Viduka and those kind of players play back then in the Premier League.
“The stadium is unbelievable, the training ground is unbelievable. The facilities here are first class. Now it’s our job as players to get the club back to where it belongs.”
Also this evening, the Yorkshire Evening Post has announced that Leeds have named West Ham Head of Recruitment Martyn Glover as their Head of Recruitment, replacing Nicola Salerno at Elland Road.
Leeds tried to bring in former Norwich City scout Steve Head but owner Massimo Cellino pulled the plug due to Head being on holiday, and he moved quickly to appoint Glover.
Glover has worked in a similar role at Blackburn Rovers before taking up the position at Upton Park and he's now joined Leeds.
The Yorkshire Evening Post also understand that Leeds are set to announce their second summer signing tomorrow (Wednesday) with Motherwell striker Lee Erwin rumoured to be the player coming in.