Archie Gray has shed some more light on his decision to leave Leeds United for Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.
With Leeds in need of a big player sale around the end of the financial year on June 30, Gray was the one sacrificed by the Whites as he moved to Spurs for around £40 million.
In the official club statement announcing his departure, Leeds claimed they were heartbroken to have had to let Gray go so early into his career at Elland Road.
Leeds supporters were sent into a state of frenzy on social media when it was first reported Gray would be leaving, predominantly due to the destination being Brentford.
However, Gray eventually asked Leeds to reject Brentford’s offer in favour of a move to Spurs, where he has been impressing during his first few weeks in North London.
Gray reveals family influence behind Leeds exit
Following the play-off final defeat to Southampton, Gray was arguably the asset Leeds fans were most reluctant to lose heading into the new season.
Gray himself had actually been content to stay at Leeds, but from both the club and players’ perspective, it was an offer that was too good to turn down.
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The 18-year-old’s family name is one that will forever hold a legacy at Leeds, with Gray’s great uncle Eddie, grandad Frank and dad Andy all having played for the club. His younger brother Harry has also been around the first team squad in pre-season.
Given his family have such a strong football background, they have been advising Gray throughout his career, including when he turned down Premier League clubs at the start of 2023.
However, speaking to Football.London, Gray has revealed how all those within his family circle encouraged him to make the move to Spurs at this time of his career.
He said: “At the start of the window I didn’t really know anything about [a potential transfer anywhere] and I was content to stay at Leeds, but as soon as I heard Tottenham were coming in I was like ‘I need to go there’.
“It’s a huge club and my dad said that too. He came to my room one morning and said ‘look, you’ve got to go to Spurs. It’s a massive club’.
“My grandad was saying it as well, he’s obviously done pretty well in his career, and he said at some point you’ve got to go to one of the biggest clubs in England and he thinks now is the right time and he thinks Spurs is a massive club as well.
“So, with people who have been advising me my whole life, I have to listen to them and I also wanted to do it too, so that was definitely a massive thing and since then I’ve enjoyed every second of it. So, definitely happy that I made that decision.”
How has Gray done at Spurs since leaving Leeds?
Of course, Spurs are still a few weeks away from their Premier League campaign getting underway, but it has not taken Gray long to make an impact.
For the first time in his young career, Gray played at centre-back on his Spurs debut against Hearts and showed his class as he did not look out of place.
Those behind-the-scenes also cannot believe just how humble Gray is, having to tell him its not his job to put the cones away after training, having done so as a youngster at Leeds.
It will certainly be interesting to see how he get on in the Premier League, as there is no doubt he will be a key player for Spurs almost right away.