Bannan makes Leeds loan switch

Championship high-flyers Leeds United have confirmed the loan signing of Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan until the end of the season.

Bannan, 21, has been at Aston Villa since 2008 and impressed early this season with a string of English Premier League and Europa League performances that won him a call-up to the Scotland squad and subsequently an international debut.

But since the return to fitness of former Leeds midfielder Fabian Delph and new signings Jean Makoun and Robert Pires arrived at Villa Park, Bannan has found opportunities in a packed midfield limited.

With that in mind, Leeds swooped to seal the capture of a player who won promotion from the Championship with Blackpool last season.

“Barry is a player we have been tracking for a while,” Leeds manager Simon Grayson told the club’s official website.

“Circumstances have now changed where Villa are in a position to let him join us and I’d like to thank them for agreeing to the move. He’s had the opportunity to go to nearly every other team in the Championship so for him to come here makes it all the more pleasing.”

“He’s used to this division and he played a major part in Blackpool’s run to get promoted last season so he has experience and he fits the bill perfectly for us.”

Leeds, who sit sixth, will be hoping to utilise Bannan’s experience as they aim for back-to-back promotions, which would see them in the Premier League for the first time since 2004.