Crewe sign 22-year old South African Premier League midfielder

By Ryan Parker

27th Jul 2022 | Local News

Crewe Alexandra have announced the signing of South African midfielder Khanya Leshabela - the club's seventh addition of the summer.

Leshebela signed from Premier League side Leicester City on a six-month loan deal yesterday (July 26).

The 5'9" midfielder was born in Soshanguve, South Africa, and grew up in Northampton, East Midlands.

Leshabela joined Leicester City academy in 2013, signing his first professional contract in January 2019.

Central midfielder Khanya Leshabela has signed from Premier League side Leicester City (Crewe Alex).

The 22-year-old has made one Premier League appearance under manager Brendan Rodgers.

Leshabela was a 81st-minute substitute during a 5–0 victory against Sheffield United in March 2021.

Today (July 27), Crewe Alexandra boss, Alex Morris, spoke of his delight completing the club's third central midfield signing of the summer.

Morris told Crewe Alexandra's website: "We knew that we were light in the middle of the pitch in terms of numbers.

Khanya Leshabela is Alex Morris' third central midfielder signing, joining Conor Thomas and Charlie Colkett (Crewe Alex).

"The system we are playing demands we need a certain amount of midfielders to call upon across the season.

"Him (Leshabela) coming in for six months, will be good for both party's. He will get some football that he craves.

"Coming out of the under 23 environment, playing plenty of competitive football will be something that attracts him to us.

"The attributes he has certainly attract us to him."

The Crewe manager was complimentary of Leshabela, believing this signing will boost his midfield options for the season ahead.

Crewe Alexandra manager, Alex Morris, ordering instructions with assistant manager, Lee Bell, in pre-season (Crewe Alex).

The South African primarily plays a central midfielder but has also been played as a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder.

Morris added: "He has lots of energy and lots of life about him. In terms of he goes and wins the ball back.

"He's neat and tidy in possession as well. He's the type that we needed in there and it just gives us a greater range of options when we do select this midfield pairings."

Leshabela has represented South Africa at under-20 level, including the Fifa U-20 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.

Crewe Alexandra's official 2022/23 squad numbers were released today - July 27 (Crewe Alex).

Crewe's new number 18 had his first professional loan spell in League One last season with Shrewsbury Town.

He went on to make nine club appearances - mainly featuring in the EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.

This signing was Crewe's second in less than a week - following the addition of Brentford winger Lachlan Brook.

Brook signed on a six-month loan deal last Friday (July 22), impressing Morris and the coaching staff as a trialist in the friendly against West Bromwich Albion on July 16.

The 21-year-old Australian will wear the number 17 shirt for the Railwaymen.