Leeds United News

Archie Gray has finally made his first start for Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night after leaving Leeds United and Ethan Ampadu has heaped praise on the teenage midfielder.

The 18-year-old played 90 minutes for Ange Postecoglou’s side in the third round of the Carabao Cup last night as Spurs came from behind late to win 2-1 against last term’s FA Cup semi-finalists Coventry City.

Goals from former Leeds loanee Djed Spence and then Brennan Johnson secured a 2-1 win for Gray and Spurs. While he was solid, Gray was outshone by Spence after the latter came on for Spurs at half-time.

Gray’s move to Spurs in the summer comes after a wonderful first season in the senior team at Leeds in which the England U21 star played 52 times in all competitions, both in midfield and at right-back.

Ampadu says Gray is “fearless” following move to Tottenham

It is a big hole that Gray has left behind. Arguably the best right-back in last season’s Championship and one of the best midfielders, too. Leeds have since replaced him with Jayden Bogle and two midfielders.

Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell have come in, but the chances of them being anything like Gray is limited. Ampadu highlighted his attributes in a recent interview with Sky Sports following his move to Spurs.

“He’s top. Not just as a player but as a person, and his family. When you play with him you forget he’s a young lad, he’s fearless. I don’t think football fazes him, everyone gets nervous but nothing fazes him.

“He plays the game how it is and that’s one of his best attributes that no matter what the game requires, no matter what situation he’s in in the game, he just does it,” Ampadu said in an interview about Gray.

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What Stuart Dallas told Gray following the play-off final

Had Leeds beaten Southampton in the play-off final, it is much more likely that Gray would have stayed at Leeds. The same for new West Ham and Brighton stars Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter.

But Southampton won 1-0 and are back in the Premier League while Leeds have been left to fight it out in England’s second tier for a second year. Dallas told Gray after the final it would make him a better player.

“I said to him after the game that these games will make you a better player, it’ll help you as a player and help you grow. I mean, you can see that now,” Dallas said when sharing what he told Gray after the final.

Archie Gray’s first start for Tottenham proved to be an enthralling Carabao Cup clash that saw Spurs manage to overcome Coventry City in the end, but he showed he’s still Leeds after the match.

The 18-year-old swapped Leeds for Tottenham at the start of July, costing Spurs a whopping £40m. But a quarter of that fee was immediately returned to Spurs, for the permanent purchase of player Joe Rodon.

But Gray has been made to wait for minutes at Tottenham. He came on in Spurs’ opening two Premier League fixtures against Leicester and Everton, but was unused against Newcastle United and Arsenal.

On Wednesday night though, Ange Postecoglou handed Gray the chance to start and he played the 90 minutes as Spurs came from behind to beat Championship side and FA Cup semi-finalists Coventry.

Gray describes as Elland Road as “our ground” in interview

A brilliant goal from Djed Spence and then an injury-time winner from Brennan Johnson cancelled out Brandon Thomas-Asante’s opener just after the hour mark. Spence’s equaliser came in the 88th minute.

Speaking after the match, Gray explained how he knew facing Coventry would be a tough clash having played against Mark Robins’ side for Leeds. Inadvertently, he described Elland Road as “our ground”.

“Difficult place to come here. Played here last year, even at our ground last year, they always bring a tough game and lots of transitions. They did well and the fans got behind them,” Gray told Sky Sports.

Gray solid but he was outshone by Spence in first Spurs start

Two tackles, passing accuracy above 90% and an interception according to WhoScored is proof that Gray has a solid, steady first start for Spurs in what was a banana skin for Ange Postecoglou’s side last night.

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But Gray was outshone by Spence. The Leeds flop, who is back at Spurs after a loan spell at Genoa, came on at half-time on the other side of Tottenham’s defence and was the architect of his side’s late equaliser.

Not only that, but he had a better passing accuracy than Gray, as many tackles and as many clearances in the 45 minutes he played. It might be back to the bench on the weekend when Spurs take on Brentford.

Over two-and-a-half-months on from his move from Leeds United, Archie Gray finally made his full competitive Tottenham debut.

Gray was handed a start at right-back in Spurs’ late 2-1 win at Coventry City in the Carabao Cup, with the 18-year-old playing the full 90 minutes in place of Pedro Porro.

Spurs have actually signed Gray to play in midfield over the long-term but their current options are so stacked that he has again had to drop into the back four, like he did for much of his time at Elland Road.

It is likely that will be where he makes the majority of his appearances given former Leeds loanee and the scorer of Spurs’ equaliser Djed Spence was left out of their Europa League squad.

Gray has frequently said he is happy to play anywhere but there is no doubt those around him, including great uncle Eddie, view his best position as midfield.

What Spurs’ local media made of former Leeds star Gray’s full debut

Gray is going to have to make the most of these sort of appearances this season as it is quite clear league minutes will be few and far between.

In both of Spurs’ last two matches, Gray has been an unused substitute and it is hard to see that changing with Yves Bissouma due back from injury soon.

And unfortunately for Gray, it does not sound like he particularly covered himself in glory on his full debut, even if Spurs did manage to comeback and take the win.

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Following back-to-back defeats in the league, including in Sunday’s North London derby against Arsenal, the pressure was on Ange Postecoglou to guide his side back to winning ways.

Postecoglou will be extremely relieved his side were able to save his blushes late on, though Football.London reported it was a tough night for Gray.

They wrote: “A busy game at right-back and Coventry gave him plenty of problems down that flank with their pace including finding that space behind him for the goal. 5.”

Jamie O’Hara blasted Spurs for £40m Gray signing

Former Spurs midfielder and now supporter Jamie O’Hara went into complete meltdown mode over his side’s transfer business in the wake of the defeat to Arsenal.

He completely lamented Spurs for spending so much money on the likes of Dominic Solanke, Wilson Odobert and Gray, all of whom came from so called lesser clubs.

And even though Spurs were able to eventually come out on top last night, perhaps he wasn’t far wrong if that performance is the benchmark for the rest of the season.

He said: “Have we brought in top players? [Dominic] Solanke, one good season at Bournemouth. Hasn’t scored yet. He’s had one good season at Bournemouth and we signed him for £60million.

“Brennan Johnson [is a] good player, a young player, Nottingham Forest, done the business of Forest. We signed him for £50 million. He looks miles off it, miles off it. And then I look at him and go, Archie Gray, good player. He’s from Leeds. It’s a Championship player. And we signed [Wilson] Odobert from Burnley.”

Archie Gray was finally handed his first Tottenham Hotspur start since leaving Leeds United more than two months ago, but he was outshone by a player that flopped under Daniel Farke.

Following his £40m move to Spurs, 18-year-old Gray has been made to wait for his first start as Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville already have picked up starts at Brighton and West Ham since going.

But on Wednesday night, that changed. Despite remaining an unused sub in Tottenham’s last two games in the Premier League against Newcastle and Arsenal, he was thrown in to the starting XI at Coventry.

A difficult game for Spurs, who actually went behind to Brandon Thomas Asante’s goal just after the hour mark for Mark Robins’ side. But two late Tottenham goals saw Spurs progress past Coventry to win 2-1.

Gray solid at right-back but Djed Spence steals the limelight

While Gray played a whopping 52 times for Leeds last season, Djed Spence managed just seven Leeds outings. Injured immediately after his debut and out for three months, Spence only played six more times.

His attitude was questioned with Spence said to have been unimpressed with playing on the left of the defence. Spence even turned up late to the meeting with Farke, when told his loan would be cancelled.

But coming on at half-time on the left of Tottenham’s defence, Spence starred for Ange Postecoglou’s men while Gray failed to prove why he cost £40m in the summer, a huge amount of cash sent to Leeds.

WhoScored stats show Spence miles better than Gray last night

Gray got a rating of 6.61, failing to offer anything in an attacking sense. The 18-year-old was solid in defence, making a couple of tackles but he was miles out of position for Thomas-Asante’s opener.

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Meanwhile, Spence showed a whole lot more in his 45 minutes. A rating of 7.48, Spence started the move that led to his goal. He also made two tackles and boasted a better passing rate, 92.9% over Gray’s 90.7%.

Tottenham Hotspur take on Coventry City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and Ange Postecoglou has made a decision regarding Archie Gray, two months after leaving Leeds United.

It is more than two months since the news broke that 18-year-old Gray would be leaving his boyhood club to join London side Tottenham. A £40m deal, though a quarter of that was used to sign Joe Rodon.

A transfer that helped Leeds balance the books and avoid a possible Profit & Sustainability Rules penalty. Of course, he was not the only big departure with Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville leaving.

Fast forward from Tottenham’s signing of Gray until now, and the England U21 star is yet to make a first start for Ange Postecoglou’s men since his arrival while both Rutter and Summerville have made starts.

Gray set to win first start for Tottenham on Wednesday night

With the Europa League not beginning until next week, Spurs are in action on Wednesday evening in the Carabao Cup. Postecoglou’s men take on Coventry City, who of course reached the FA Cup semi-finals.

Gray is yet to make a start for Spurs, coming on as a sub in their first two games but remaining an unused sub in their last two against Newcastle and Arsenal. However, Give Me Sport details some good news.

Indeed, they say Gray is about to win his first start for Postecoglou’s men on Wednesday night and get a start against Mark Robins’ cup specialists. A chance to shine for the £40m teen in a Tottenham shirt.

What Angus Kinnear said to Gray just before joining Tottenham

Kinnear recently gave an interview to The Square Ball, which has become an annual event after the summer window. He said he travelled with “phenomenal” Gray to London to sort out a move to Spurs.

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Indeed, Kinnear shares what he said to Gray while completing his move to Spurs that if it didn’t feel right, to give Leeds another year. But the teen sensation chose to join Spurs under manager Postecoglou.

“We spoke to him on the final day, Paraag and I, said, ‘Archie, if this doesn’t feel right, just come back and train, give us another year’. But I don’t begrudge him of the decision at all, it’s just the reality of the gap.”

Angus Kinnear has opened up on some of the behind-the-scenes details that saw Archie Gray leave Leeds United for Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

Following Leeds‘ failure to win promotion, Gray was the first of three major sales across the window at Elland Road, with his seen as the key to complying with P&S at the time.

His move was completed just after the end of the financial year on June 30, and with him coming through the academy, will represent pure profit on Leeds’ accounts.

It was suggested in Leeds’ official statement announcing Gray’s departure that it would then help to keep some of their other key players, which according to Kinnear, it did to an extent.

Leeds are said to have knocked back big bids for Wilfried Gnonto, but it is hard to see it that way given Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter both also left.

Kinnear on what he told Gray just before Leeds exit

Kinnear was making his yearly appearance on the Square Ball Podcast in which he revealed he was with Gray and his Dad in north London on the day the deal was wrapped up.

Given his family legacy at the club, and the fact he only spent one year in the first team after progressing through the academy, Leeds fans were absolutely livid when news of Gray’s exit first broke.

There were some murmurs across social media that Leeds’ handling of the situation had damaged his family’s relationship with the club and could’ve therefore led to his brother Harry leaving, though those rumours were shut down.

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And now Kinnear has explained in more detail exactly how Gray’s final days at Leeds played out, even sharing how both he and Paraag Marathe both made a late plea to the 18-year-old to return to Thorp Arch if he had any doubts.

He said: “Leeds United did not approach any other club to sell Archie Gray across the whole window. Normally when you are trying to sell a player, you offer them around, speaking to the agent telling them we want that player to leave.

“We could have kept Archie Gray, but when you see – and I spent a day at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground with Daniel Levy, Archie and his dad, putting the deal together. The deal is absolutely life changing, and let me be clear, Archie and his dad handled the situation impeccably.

“They will always be great friends of the club, they could not have done anything more in terms of the way they handled it. But the opportunity to play in the Premier League and in Europe, for one of the six biggest clubs in the country, on a multiple of the money he was ever going to earn at Leeds, you can’t begrudge the player that.

“We spoke to him on the final day, Paraag and I, said, ‘Archie, if this doesn’t feel right, just come back and train, give us another year’. But I don’t begrudge him of the decision at all, it’s just the reality of the gap to the Premier League and Championship.”

Tottenham plotting move for Archie’s brother Harry Gray

Though Archie may be the best talent out of the academy since James Milner, there are suggestions his younger brother Harry is even better.

In fact, that has come from Archie himself. At just 15, Harry was heavily involved in pre-season with Leeds’ senior side, though injury has set him back in his development.

Unfortunately, though, Leeds may now face a fight on their hands to keep Gray, with Tottenham Hotspur and several top Premier League clubs keen.

Leeds United face a crucial Championship clash against Burnley on Saturday lunchtime at Elland Road in what is The Whites’ biggest test of the 2024-25 campaign so far.

Like Daniel Farke, Scott Parker will be eyeing a third promotion from The Championship as a manager and will be doing so with his new Burnley side who have had an incredible turnover of players this summer.

Leeds are expected to welcome back two players that played for The Whites last season in the form of Connor Roberts and Jaidon Anthony. The two linked up on the right flank for Burnley in their last outing.

Burnley, also like Leeds, currently sit in the play-off positions after picking up seven points from their first four games of the season. However, the Clarets are not unbeaten like Leeds, having lost to Sunderland.

Solomon’s only previous outing against Burnley came last season

Following his successful stint at Fulham, 25-year-old Solomon joined Tottenham little over 12 months ago and he played six times for Spurs before the winger tore the meniscus in his knee, missing the season.

Solomon made a brilliant start to life at Leeds having joined on loan from Spurs, laying on a pivotal assist for Mateo Joseph against Hull. It was his first game in almost 12 months following his devastating injury.

He has since played twice for Israel during the break. In those six Tottenham outings, Solomon managed two assists for Ange Postecoglou’s side and they both came in a 5-2 win over Burnley last season.

Injury status of Leeds squad ahead of massive Burnley clash

Leeds have three injuries ahead of boss Farke’s press conference on Thursday. Patrick Bamford and Dan James both missed the win over Hull due to hamstring injuries, and James missed the international break.

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The chances are that Bamford is not risked due to his injury record but if James is fit, there might be a space for him in on the Leeds bench. The other is Max Wober, who is said to have picked up a knee issue.

Tottenham Hotspur’s deal to sign Archie Gray may not be the last raid on Leeds United’s top young talent.

Gray moved to Spurs for £40 million in early July as Leeds were unfortunately forced into selling him to remain compliant with P&S regulations.

After just one season in the first team, Gray‘s departure was a difficult pill to swallow. However, there will now be hope no more of the club’s top young talents have to move on.

Gray was regarded as arguably the best player to come out of Leeds’ academy since James Milner during the early 2000s, but there may be even better coming through soon.

And unfortunately as a Championship club, there will always be that risk some of the Europe’s elite make their move before even making it into the first team.

Tottenham eyeing move for Archie’s brother Harry Gray

Mateo Joseph is the youngster making his mark at Leeds this season but over the summer, Daniel Farke had plenty in and around the senior setup.

Six youngsters were involved in the pre-season tour of Germany, one of which was Archie’s younger brother Harry Gray, until he picked up an injury.

Gray is still only 15 and so to have already been involved in a couple of pre-season friendlies shows just how highly he is rated at Leeds.

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However, speaking exclusively to LeedsUnited.News, transfer expert Graeme Bailey says Leeds already face a fight on their hands to keep Gray, with Tottenham among several top Premier League clubs beginning to circle.

He said: “With Archie Gray gone, whilst devastating to Leeds fans also highlighted that the club’s current regime are wiling to sell anyone, and nobody knows that better than Tottenham.

“Tottenham are indeed admirers of Harry Gray, but I can confirm they liked him before they signed Archie, they haven’t suddenly emerged with an interest in light of the deal.

“Tottenham though, are not the only interested party – again not surprising but all of the Premier League big clubs are more than aware of Harry.”

Leeds have family advantage in keeping Gray

Archie has already claimed his brother Harry is an even better player than he is, and so it would be a massive shame if he was to leave before even playing competitively for Leeds.

However, Leeds do have the advantage of his family legacy when it comes to keeping him for at least a few more years.

Harry can use his brother’s example of literally just one season in the first team earning him a move to a top club.

If he was to leave now, however, it is likely he would have to wait a few more years before getting an opportunity in another club’s senior side.

As well as that, hopefully his family Andy, Eddie and Frank can advise him staying at Leeds would be the best for his career at this stage.

Archie Gray’s departure from Leeds United to join Tottenham left Elland Road fans heartbroken earlier on in the summer, but Eddie Gray has shared why his great nephew chose to make the move.

Rewind a couple of months at the start of the transfer window and Leeds were forced to cash in on a big-name player in order to raise funds. Profit & Sustainability Rules had left Leeds worried about a penalty.

It was likely that had there been an offer on the table for another player at Leeds alongside Gray, then the 18-year-old England U21 man would never have been sold but unfortunately for Leeds, it wasn’t the case.

Gray was sold for a big fee of £40m and it also allowed Leeds to sign Joe Rodon. So as the dust settles, it was probably a move Leeds had to make given it saved a possible points deduction and saw Rodon join.

Ange Postecoglou a key factor in Gray choosing Tottenham

It is well-documented that Thorp Arch academy product Gray initially traveled to Brentford before moving to Spurs. It came after Aston Villa had held talks a week prior to sign Gray from Daniel Farke’s Leeds side.

But he ended up at Tottenham and will get a chance to play in the Europa League this season. Speaking to The Daily Record, Leeds legend Eddie said great-nephew Archie chose Spurs because of Postecoglou.

“He’s working under a terrific manager. He loves the manager. There were a few teams, but meeting the manager and how he conducted himself swung it for Archie. I think he’ll do very well at Spurs,” Gray said.

What those at Tottenham have already noticed about Gray

Gray has featured in two of Tottenham’s three Premier League games so far, coming off the bench in a draw against Leicester and then a 4-0 win over Everton. But he remained an unused sub at Newcastle.

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As the season grows older, Gray is likely to push himself further into Tottenham’s starting side especially with Spurs playing six times in the Europa League before Christmas, the first coming on September 26.

Archie Gray is still waiting for his first start for Tottenham Hotspur after leaving Leeds United to join the North London club, but Paul Robinson has made a prediction about the versatile teen.

The 18-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the last 12 months. But those of a Leeds persuasion will have seen it coming, with Gray already around the Leeds first team during the era of boss Jesse Marsch.

Injury prevented the youngster from following in the footsteps of family members Andy, Frank and Eddie until the opening day of the 2023-24 season, when Daniel Farke threw Gray into the Leeds starting XI.

He went on to play 52 times for Leeds last season. Right-back, central midfield or even as a no.10, Gray instantly became a favourite as Leeds reached the play-off final but it ended in defeat to Southampton.

Robinson also left Leeds to join Tottenham as a young player

Failure to gain promotion meant Leeds had to sell and with the Profit & Sustainability deadline on the horizon, Leeds only had an offer for Gray on the table and were forced to sell, joining Spurs for £40m.

So far, Gray has made substitute appearances in two of Tottenham’s three Premier League games as he waits for his chance from the off for Spurs, having followed Robinson’s path in leaving Leeds for Spurs.

Fellow Thorp Arch academy product Robinson claims on social media that over the next few years, Gray will be a regular for England having already become a key part of the U21 side during the 2023-24 term.

Robinson replied to a post, saying both Gray and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton will be regulars for England soon: “Archie Gray and Adam Wharton over the next few years!”

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Why Leeds preferred selling Gray to Tottenham over Brentford

It is common knowledge now that Gray initially travelled to the capital to undergo a medical with Thomas Frank’s Brentford. But as soon as Spurs came calling, Gray dropped a move to the Bees for Tottenham.

It is claimed that Leeds preferred Gray joining Tottenham over Brentford, largely because it allowed Leeds to do a permanent deal for Joe Rodon. But also, because Leeds were wary of a fan backlash from his sale.

The club felt that selling to Tottenham, naturally a bigger club than Brentford, would appease Leeds fans more so given joining a club of that size is perhaps more understandable than a move to join Brentford.