Leeds United officially announced that U21 defender Louie Dudley has officially signed his first professional contract and will continue to play for the team until 2027.

In an interview after signing the contract, the 17-year-old Dudley said that being able to renew his contract with his hometown team and enter a new stage of his career was a dream come true for him.

"It feels great," Dudley said in an interview. "Looking back at how I've come from grassroots football to where I am today, I never thought I'd achieve something like this. As a kid from Leeds, it's very special to be able to sign for the club where I grew up."

“I was deeply moved by the fans’ support, the family atmosphere and the cohesion within the team. Seeing academy players successfully progressing to the first team made me believe that I could have the opportunity to do the same.”

When talking about his personal growth, Dudley expressed special thanks to the coaching staff for their careful guidance: "The coaches' guidance on defensive details has been very helpful. Now I am more confident on the offensive end and can use my speed to create advantages. I enjoy defending and I also like to create offensive opportunities for the team. Whether it's passing the ball into the penalty area or preventing the opponent from crossing, I enjoy it."

“Playing with the U21s has helped me improve both physically and mentally. The games are faster, more competitive and the players are smarter. We’ve had a good start to the season, winning a lot of games and showing a more mature side against the senior team. We’re still learning and improving game by game.”