Football
Manchester United Close to Signing Paraguayan Starlet Diego Leon in £3.1m Deal

Manchester United are reportedly in advanced talks to sign 17-year-old left-back Diego Leon from Paraguayan club Cerro Porteño.
The Premier League giants are said to have agreed on a £3.1 million fee, with discussions ongoing regarding add-ons and the player’s economic rights.
Who Is Diego Leon?
Leon burst onto the scene in August, marking his first-team debut with Cerro Porteño in perfect fashion by scoring the winning goal.
Since then, he has cemented his place as the club’s first-choice left-back, racking up 19 league appearances in an impressive debut season.
Displaying defensive solidity, attacking prowess, and composure beyond his years, Leon is seen as a prospect with significant potential to develop into a top-tier player.
The teenager’s rapid rise has not gone unnoticed, with Manchester United moving quickly to open talks for his signature. According to South American journalist César Luis Merlo, the transfer is now in its advanced stages.
Should the deal go through, it will be United’s first signing under new manager Ruben Amorim.
Exciting to see United making real moves in foreign markets now for younger talents, convinced that this approach will pay off massively in the long term with squad building. First with Sekou Kone and now with this lad Diego Leon. https://t.co/FNCAyDu6Vd
— United Peoples TV (@UnitedPeoplesTV) December 11, 2024
Leon Expected To Remain At Parent Club Until Summer
While the deal progresses, Leon is expected to remain with Cerro Porteño until at least next summer. Paraguayan regulations prevent the defender from transferring abroad before he turns 18 – a milestone he will reach in April 2025.
Both Leon and Cerro Porteño’s vice-president, Juan Carlos Pettengill, have confirmed that the young star is focused on his immediate future with the club, particularly their participation in the prestigious Copa Libertadores next year.
“I have huge expectations about playing in the 2025 Libertadores,” Leon said in an interview with Deportes Uno. “I’ve read about Manchester United’s link with me, I don’t know anything. Everything is handled by my agent.”
Leon also reflected on his breakthrough season: “I spent four years preparing for this opportunity, you have to take advantage of it when it comes.
“Now I’m thinking about everything that happened this season. The night before the debut I couldn’t sleep because of the excitement.”
Pettengill echoed the sentiment, stating, “Diego Leon will play this season at Cerro. He can’t leave before he turns 18 years old.”