Midfielder Tom Taiwo signed permanently for United in January 2010 after a successful six-month loan spell from Premier League side Chelsea.

Leeds-born Taiwo began his career in the youth academy at his hometown club Leeds United and impressed with his energy and hard-working displays for the Whites.

He was offered a scholarship at Elland Road but turned it down and instead joined Premier League side Chelsea in the summer of 2006 along with fellow academy graduate Michael Woods, with the west London club having to compensate Leeds for both players.

The start of his career at Stamford Bridge was disrupted after he picked up a broken leg in pre-season, ruling him out for the first half of the season. He made his return in January and impressed with his performances for the youth team.

His performances for the Chelsea youth side earned him a call-up to the England squad for the FIFA U17 World Cup in South Korea. He made two appearances in the group stage, including a 2-1 win over Brazil as England finished in first place. They were eventually knocked out in the quarter-finals by Germany, but Taiwo was unavailable for that game due to injury.

At the start of the 2007/08 season, he joined League Two side Port Vale on a months loan with a view to a longer deal. He made five appearances for Vale, managed by one of his former Leeds youth coach Lee Sinnott, before returning to Stamford Bridge.

In March 2009 he had a trial spell with Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders with a view to a loan move, but the US side decided against a move.

Before the start of pre-season in July 2009 he was signed by United on a six-month loan deal which saw him once again team up with Greg Abbott, who had coached him at the Leeds United academy.

He very quickly became a big fans favourite with his energetic displays and superb tackling ability, straight away becoming a regular in midfield. He went on to make 28 appearances in all competitions during his initial spell, scoring his first ever senior goal in a 3-2 win over Hartlepool United.

Not long after playing the last game of his loan spell, a 3-1 defeat to Premier League side Everton in the FA Cup, United moved to sign up Taiwo on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee. After agreeing a two and a half year deal, he went on to make a further 19 appearances for the first team before the end of the 2009/10 season.

The 2010/11 season saw Tom continue his impressive progress at the club as he featured in every single league and cup fixture during the campaign, chipping in with three goals along the way. He also started in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at Wembley Stadium, putting in a typical battling display to help United beat Brentford 1-0 and win the competition for a second time.

An ever improving player who has recently played in a more attacking role, he can always be relied on to give 100% and never gives up on a lost cause.

Under contract until the summer of 2012.