Leeds United forward Mateo Joseph has revealed he is "very happy" and "eager to get started" ahead of his proposed move to La Liga side RCD Mallorca.
Joseph, 21, landed at Palma Airport at around 9pm on Thursday evening after gaining permission to travel to the Balearic Island. The Spain Under-21s international is due to undergo a medical in Mallorca today before putting the finishing touches on a straight loan deal.
According to Spanish outlet Sport, Real Betis and Girona wanted Joseph on loan with a buy option. Leeds, meanwhile, wanted to sell him for £12.1m or allow him to leave on a simple loan.
It has now emeged that Mallorca sporting director Pablo Ortells has agreed to a loan with no purchase option, and the forward will spend the 2025/26 season in La Liga. LeedsLive understands the Whites are hopeful that a successful loan will boost his market value before potentially cashing in on the forward.
Marca reported that Mallorca attacking midfielder Pablo Torre helped persuade Joseph to join him at the Spanish club. This has since been backed by Joseph himself.
After touching down in Palma, Joseph told reporters, as relayed by Marca: "I'm looking forward to it [moving to Mallorca]. I've known Pablo Torre my whole life. He's the first one I've spoken to."
Joseph also expressed his excitement about his move to Mallorca and admitted he is raring to go ahead of their first La Liga game of the season against Barcelona next Saturday.
Mallorca finished 10th in the Spanish top-tier last season, winning 13 and drawing nine of their 38 fixtures. They ended just four points behind a spot in the Conference League.
Joseph, who has three years left on his Leeds contract, informed the club of his desire to leave Elland Road last month. The former Espanyol youth product hasn't featured for the Whites during pre-season, with Daniel Farke reiterating that he isn't part of his plans moving forward.
"No, we spoke about the situation before the training camp [in Germany] about his decision and he didn't feel ready to train with us and to travel to Stockholm," Farke said last Saturday.
"He wasn't ready to play the training games and we can't then afford him in the group, which is excited and focused and concentrated on preparing for Premier League level. We can't afford someone in the group who is perhaps distracted or not fully committed. At the moment, he is not in my plans."
Joseph may not have the most prolific record since the start of his senior career, having netted just six times in 73 first-team matches for Leeds, but there is no doubt he has a great deal of potential.
He could flourish back in Spain with Mallorca, who have signed two players so far this summer. Torre has arrived from Barcelona, while Lucas Bergstrom has signed on a free transfer from Chelsea.
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