Archie James Francis Gray (born 12 March 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or defender for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.[3]

Archie Gray
Personal information
Full name Archie James Francis Gray[1]
Date of birth (2006-03-12) 12 March 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Durham, England[2]
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.87 m)
Position(s) Central midfielder, right-back
Team information
Current team
Tottenham Hotspur
Number 14
Youth career
2014–2022 Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2024 Leeds United 44 (0)
2024– Tottenham Hotspur 5 (0)
International career
2021 England U15 1 (0)
2021–2022 England U16 8 (0)
2022–2023 England U17 9 (1)
2022–2023 England U19 3 (0)
2023– England U20 1 (0)
2024– England U21 10 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:35, 3 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:18, 12 October 2024 (UTC)

Club career

edit

Leeds United

edit

Born in Durham, Gray joined Leeds United at under-9 level.[2][4] He progressed rapidly through the academy, and an agreement had to be met between Leeds United and Gray's school, the St John Fisher Catholic High School in Harrogate, for Gray to miss classes in order to train with the first team, at the request of then-manager Marcelo Bielsa.[4]

On 18 December 2021, aged 15, Gray was named on the bench for a Premier League game against Arsenal.[4] Had he featured, he would have broken the record for Leeds United's youngest player, set in 1962 by Peter Lorimer.[4] He made the bench a further five times in the 2021–22 season, but did not feature.[5]

He signed a two-year scholarship deal with Leeds United in September 2022.[6]

On 6 August 2023, Gray made his Leeds United and senior debut in the opening game of the 2023–24 EFL Championship season against Cardiff City at Elland Road. Gray appeared 52 times in all competitions as Leeds lost in the playoff final to Southampton.[7] In April 2024, he was awarded the EFL Championship Young Player of the Season.[8]

Tottenham Hotspur

edit

On 2 July 2024, Gray signed for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, for an undisclosed fee, reported to be around £40m.[9] On 19 August, he made his debut for the club, as a substitute, in a 1–1 draw against Leicester City in the league.[10]

Gray's first start for the club, wearing the shirt number 14, came in a 2-1 EFL Cup win against Coventry City on 18 September.[11]

International career

edit

Gray has represented England at under-16 level through to under-21 level.[2] He remains eligible to represent Scotland.[12]

On 17 May 2023, Gray was named in the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[13]

Having already stepped up to the England U19 squad, Gray made his U20 debut on 16 November 2023 during a 3–0 defeat to Italy at the Eco-Power Stadium.[14] On 22 March 2024, Gray scored on his debut for England U21 in a 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Azerbaijan U21, in which England won 5–1 in Baku.[15]

Personal life

edit

He is the son of Andy Gray and Giorgina. He is one of four brothers.[16] He is also the grandson of Frank Gray, and the great nephew of Eddie Gray, all of whom played for Leeds United and represented Scotland at international level.[4] His younger brothers Harry (born 2008), Charlie (born 2012) and Jacob (born 2013) play for the Leeds United academy.[17][18]

Career statistics

edit

Club

edit
As of match played 3 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Leeds United 2023–24[19] Championship 44 0 3 0 2 0 3[a] 0 52 0
Tottenham Hotspur 2024–25[20] Premier League 5 0 0 0 2 0 3[b] 0 10 0
Career total 49 0 3 0 4 0 3 0 3 0 62 0
  1. ^ Appearances in Championship play-offs
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

edit

Individual

References

edit
  1. ^ "Updated squad lists for 2022/23 Premier League". Premier League. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Archie Gray at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ "Gray deal agreed". Tottenham Hotspur. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e Hay, Phil (26 August 2022). "Archie Gray: 16 years old, GCSEs freshly in hand and part of the Leeds first team". theathletic.com. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  5. ^ Archie Gray at Soccerway
  6. ^ Barrett, Thomas (16 September 2022). "Harrogate's Archie Gray signs scholarship with Leeds United". thestrayferret.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Leeds United v Cardiff City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "Crysencio Summerville named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season". EFL. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  9. ^ Wobschall, Leon (2 July 2024). "Leeds United transfers: 'Heartbroken' Leeds sell Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur for £40m as Joe Rodon joins for £10m". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Leicester draw with Tottenham in return to Premier League". 19 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Coventry 1-2 Tottenham: Win papers over performance". BBC Sport. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  12. ^ Berry, Gavin (14 April 2022). "Who is Archie Gray? The Leeds United wonderkid from Scottish football royalty making his name with ENGLAND". dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  13. ^ "England MU17s squad named for EURO Finals". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Report: England Elite League squad 0–3 Italy". Emglandfootball.com. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Elliott scores twice in big England U21s win". BBC Sport. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  16. ^ Heppenstall, Ross (8 December 2023). "Archie Gray: 'My childhood dream was to win the Champions League with Leeds'". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  17. ^ Pickworth, William (8 December 2023). "Who's next in the Gray dynasty". The Mail on Sunday. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  18. ^ Trickett, Claire (8 December 2023). "Eddie Gray". Beyond Magazine. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Games played by Archie Gray in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Games played by Archie Gray in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  21. ^ "2023/24 Young Player of the Year: Archie Gray". Leeds United FC. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  22. ^ "PFA Championship Team of the Year". PFA. 20 August 2024.
edit