A youth international’s aim after signing a Leeds United deal.

Youth international centre-back Luke Matykiewicz has declared his next aim after signing a two-year Leeds United deal.

Matykiewicz, 18, began last season playing for United’s under-21s before progressing to Scott Gardner’s under-21s for whom he played eight times.

Last season also saw the teenager make his debut for Northern Ireland’s under-21s in November’s 1-0 win against Malta and two more outings for the country’s under-21s followed in March against Romania and Kazakhstan.

The defender has now signed his first professional deal with Leeds - penning terms on a two year contract that runs until 2028 - and the teenager’s next aim is to become one of the “main players” for the club’s under-21s.

“I found a new level, I guess”

Speaking to Leeds United’s official website, Matykiewicz said: “I feel like in the Under-18s I was pretty solid defensively but then when you get into the Under-21s, the opposition gets a lot better.

“I kind of had to re-find my feet and then, obviously, through that get better at defending again. I found a new level, I guess. Obviously, I want to become one of the main players in the Under-21s, consistently playing week in, week out.”

Reflecting on signing his first pro deal, the defender beamed: “I am buzzing about it. I have worked pretty much since the age of four to get to this point, so to finally get a professional contract signed, especially for a club like Leeds, is a great achievement for me.

“I want to thank my family for that as well, getting me to training and matches. I joined in the Under-14s but I had been in and around development centres and the shadow squads from the age of nine.

“That makes it mean even more to me because I have seen what it is like for them, like the kids in the development centres, so to get the contract is really good.”