Man Utd defender Diego Leon arrived in Manchester this summer and was formally introduced at Old Trafford on Saturday.Diego Leon was introduced to fans on Sunday.(Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)

Manchester United summer signing Diego Leon continues to train with the first-team.

United agreed a £3.3million fee, rising to £7m with add-ons, with Paraguay club Cerro Porteno to sign Leon, who was due to be assessed throughout pre-season before a decision was made on his next steps.

The options of playing for the Under-21s or going out on loan were considered, but the current indicators suggest that Leon will contribute to United’s first-team squad this season.

Leon made a strong first impression at Carrington and was handed a first-team squad number (30) before the opening pre-season friendly against Leeds in Stockholm. Ruben Amorim started Leon in that friendly and he made substitute appearances against West Ham and Bournemouth in the United States.

The 18-year-old has now switched squad number, changing to No.35, with Benjamin Sesko expected to inherit his former number, but that does not mean Leon has been demoted.

Leon was formally introduced at Old Trafford alongside Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Sesko before the Fiorentina friendly on Saturday, further pointing to a first-team role.

He was an unused substitute and is understood to have trained with the first-team again on Sunday, as the players who were not involved against Fiorentina trained at Carrington on the following day.

When Leon spoke to journalists in Paraguay before his arrival in Manchester, he promised to “kill it” in pre-season to impress Amorim.

Leon has also impressed his teammates and Patrick Dorgu praised him after facing Leeds in Stockholm.

“He’s a top, top player,” said Dorgu. “He’s a good player, he’s good for everyone. Everyone has competition in their positions. Every player has two or three players in their position. It’s just going to help the team even more. Everyone’s going to be on their toes, everyone’s going to give 100 per cent to the team.”

Leon completed a medical to finalise his move from Cerro Porteno in January, but the deal outlined that he would move to Old Trafford in the summer transfer window.

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