Purver was born in 1995 in Leeds. He joined Leeds United's academy as a six-year-old, took up a two-year scholarship in 2012, and in his first season as a scholar, was a regular in the under-18 side that won the U18 Professional Development League North Divisiontheir record included a 12-match unbeaten runand reached the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup. Purver signed a one-year professional contract in 2014, and was given a first-team squad number. He regularly captained their under-21 team in 2014–15, although he played less in his preferred position of central midfielder than he did filling in at right back or elsewhere, and travelled with Neil Redfearn's squad for a Championship match at Birmingham City, but was not in the matchday 18.
