Isaac Schmidt delighted to be on same team as Leeds United star Wilfried Gnonto after red card

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Isaac Schmidt says he is delighted to have joined Leeds United and be on the same team as Wilfried Gnonto after the Italian was the reason for one of his two red cards in Switzerland.

Schmidt, 24, has finally been announced by Leeds after a long wait for fans. With just 30 minutes left to go in the transfer window, Leeds confirmed the arrival of Schmidt on a four-year deal at Elland Road.

It comes after the signing of Ao Tanaka on deadline day. Schmidt, who will wear the vacant no.33 shirt after Connor Roberts returned to Burnley, will not be available to play against Hull City on Saturday.

But it finally sees Leeds address the lack of cover at full-back, with the injury-prone Sam Byram the only other option behind both Jayden Bogle on the right and Junior Firpo on the left of Daniel Farke’s defence.

• READ MORE: St. Gallen’s parting message to Schmidt following Leeds move

Schmidt recalls red card when facing Gnonto and FC Zurich

The defender was asked about Leeds star Gnonto, with the 20-year-old Italy star having played in the Swiss Super League against Schmidt. Gnonto was at FC Zurich, before his move to Leeds in August 2022.

Asked about Gnonto, Schmidt said he is delighted to be on the same team as the Leeds star. He recalled one of his two red cards in 108 games for St. Gallen came against Zurich, sent off for fouling Gnonto.

“I’ve played against him when he was at Zurich. I am happy to be in the same team as him now, because he was really good. Too fast, I got a red card because of him. It’s better as teammates,” he told LUTV.

Schmidt on his “dream” move to Leeds as Whites fork out

The initial belief was that Schmidt would only be cover for Bogle and Firpo but there is every chance that the left-footed full-back, who can play on both sides, could end up ahead of Bogle after his poor start.

Schmidt won’t be available against Hull but Leeds fans may get to see their first glimpse of the defender against Burnley, where Leeds come up against Roberts and Jaidon Anthony. He told LUTV it is a “dream”.

“I’m really happy first of all because it is my dream to come to England to play for a club like Leeds, it is a big dream for me,” Schmidt said, after becoming Leeds’ eighth signing of the 2024 summer window.