The 21-year-old midfielder will be loaned to La Liga 2 side Cultural Leonesa until the end of the season, subject to a medical next week, Leeds officials added.

“I felt like I needed a new challenge, to help me develop further as a player,” Ideguchi told a news conference.

“Hopefully I can deliver some good news to people back in Japan rather than have people wonder where I disappeared to.”

Ideguchi, instantly recognizable with his bleached-blond buzz cut, must also resolve the issue of his British work permit before making his Leeds debut, having failed to make the required amount of senior Japan appearances to automatically qualify.

He has played just 11 times for Japan, scoring two goals, including one in the 2-0 home win over Australia last August that secured his country’s place at this year’s World Cup in Russia.

Ideguchi was also a member of the Japanese Olympic side at the 2016 Rio Games.