Leeds United player closes in on late Elland Road exit | OneFootball

Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen is set to leave Leeds United on loan for Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic.

Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen is closing in on a loan exit from Leeds United, with Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic in talks over a loan deal.

Joe Donnohue of The Yorkshire Evening Post has the latest regarding the 20-year-old, outlining that Mullen's contract is up in the summer, with any switch likely to see his time at Elland Road come to an end this summer.

He started his career in Liverpool's youth setup before moving to the Whites in 2020, rising through each of the various youth teams from U-18 through to U-21 level.

This would not be Mullen's first switch to the second tier of Scottish football. Last season, Mullen spent time on loan at Inverness Caledonian Thistle before a back injury curtailed his temporary spell with the club.

However, he has not been able to make an impact in West Yorkshire and has failed to ever make an appearance for Leeds. Ethan Ampadu filled in at centre-back last year, but Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon are the primary pair for Daniel Farke.

Max Wöber is the left-footed cover for Struijk and the likes of James Debayo and Diego Monteiro are ahead of him in the pecking order for young central defensive options at the club.

Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen set for Leeds loan exit

Leeds’ U-21 side has been boasting plenty of talent for some time, and there has come a point where a lot of them could do with more senior opportunities than they could get at Elland Road.

Therefore, loan agreements need to be sanctioned to get these players into the senior environment and developing faster, or permanent deals need to be agreed to get them playing regular football for the good of their careers.

Leeds are famed for their ability to produce and develop young talent, with a clear pathway to the first-team a part of the fabric of the club for decades now.

However, Mullen has failed to be a part of that, in spite of the fact he was one of only six U-21 players to be taken to Leeds' pre-season tour of Germany, alongside both Harry Gray and Charlie Crew.

The latter is already beginning to impress in League Two with Doncaster Rovers, highlighting the need for Mullen to play regularly elsewhere at the age of 20. Mullen's Leeds contract expires at the end of the 2024/25 season, too.

Donnohue reports that it is therefore likely any loan deal secured before the transfer deadline will mark his Elland Road farewell.

Mullen to make Dunfermline Athletic loan switch

Chilokoa-Mullen was sent on loan to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Championship, making his senior debut in a 3-2 away win against Raith Rovers. However, that was his first taste of senior football and he has not broken into Daniel Farke's plans.

At the age of 20, he has only made four appearances. That's after he made a further two league appearances and a cup appearance against Hibernian for the side before being recalled after suffering a back injury in March 2024.

That setback ruled him out of the remainder of the season. Now, he can kickstart things again. Mullen heading out on loan is great to see for someone clearly talented, particularly physically.

However, he’s not the only youth defender that Leeds need to be getting out on loan, with Debayo also in need of such a switch. They are too good and talented to be playing just in the U-21 side right now.