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Leeds have rejected a written transfer request from captain Rio Ferdinand.

Chairman Peter Ridsdale re-iterated that the would not allow the England international to leave Elland Road and move to Manchester United.

"I can confirm that Rio Ferdinand has asked for a transfer and this request has been rejected.

"Secondly no bid for Rio worthy of consideration has been received from any football club.

"Rio has four years left on his current contract and we expect him to respect that contractual obligation," he told Leeds' website.

Ridsdale had warned earlier that he would reject a transfer request from the former West Ham defender and wasted no time in turning down Ferdinand's request to leave.

Ferdinand told Sky Sports News: "For the past three days, I have been torn apart.

"I love Leeds United and the people...they took a huge gamble in signing me and I will never forget that."

Ferdinand's agent Pinhas Zahavi said earlier that the England defender has asked to leave Elland Road with Manchester United presumed to be his preferred destination.

Ferdinand said earlier this week that he was going to take 48 hours to decide his future and visited relatives in Peckham yesterday while he pondered whether to stay with cash-strapped Leeds.

The 23-year-old has also discussed his future with new Leeds boss Terry Venables, who declared that he wanted the World Cup star to remain at Elland Road.

If Leeds were to sell, they would be expected to make a healthy profit on the £18 million they paid the Hammers for him in November 1999.

Ferdinand faxed his transfer request to Ridsdale, who is on holiday in France.

Old Trafford chief executive Peter Kenyon said last week that United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had spent the summer "thinking about strengthening his defence."

Ferguson has now received confirmation that the player considered his main transfer target wants a move.