Archie Gray Explained

Archie Gray
Full Name:Archie James Francis Gray[1]
Birth Date:12 March 2006
Birth Place:Durham, England
Height:1.87m (06.14feet)
Position:Central midfielder, right-back
Clubnumber:14
Currentclub:Tottenham Hotspur
Youthyears1:2014–2022
Youthclubs1:Leeds United
Years1:2022–2024
Clubs1:Leeds United
Caps1:44
Goals1:0
Years2:2024–
Clubs2:Tottenham Hotspur
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Nationalyears1:2021
Nationalteam1:England U15
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2021–2022
Nationalteam2:England U16
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2022–2023
Nationalteam3:England U17
Nationalcaps3:9
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalyears4:2022–2023
Nationalteam4:England U19
Nationalcaps4:3
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2023–
Nationalteam5:England U20
Nationalcaps5:1
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalyears6:2024–
Nationalteam6:England U21
Nationalcaps6:2
Nationalgoals6:1
Club-Update:21:05, 19 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:21:47, 26 March 2024 (UTC)

Archie James Francis Gray (born 12 March 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder or right-back for club Tottenham Hotspur.[2] He is known for his high potential and talent at a young age.[3]

Club career

Leeds United

Born in Durham, Gray joined Leeds United at under-9 level.[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.

He signed a two-year scholarship deal with Leeds United in September 2022.[5]

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.[6] In April 2024, he was awarded the EFL Championship Young Player of the Season.

Tottenham Hotspur

On 2 July 2024, Gray signed for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, for an undisclosed fee, reported to be around £40m.[7]

International career

Gray has represented England at under-16, under-17 and under-21 level. He remains eligible to represent Scotland.[8]

On 17 May 2023, Gray was named in the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[9]

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.[10] 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.[11]

Personal life

He is the son of Andy Gray and Giorgina. He is one of four brothers.[12] 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.[13] [14]

Career statistics

Club

Club!rowspan=2
SeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leeds United2023–24Championship440302030520
Tottenham Hotspur2024–25Premier League1000000010
Career total45030200030530

Honours

Individual

2023–24[15]

2023–24 Championship[17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Updated squad lists for 2022/23 Premier League . Premier League . 4 February 2023 . 11 February 2023.
  2. Web site: Gray deal agreed . 2024-07-03 . Tottenham Hotspur . en.
  3. Web site: 2024-03-12 . Archie Gray Named in Goal's NXGN Best 50 Wonderkids . 2024-07-04 . OneFootball . fr.
  4. Web site: Archie Gray: 16 years old, GCSEs freshly in hand and part of the Leeds first team. Phil. Hay. 26 August 2022. 2 November 2022. theathletic.com. subscription.
  5. Web site: Harrogate's Archie Gray signs scholarship with Leeds United. Thomas. Barrett. 16 September 2022. 2 November 2022. thestrayferret.co.uk.
  6. Web site: Leeds United v Cardiff City . BBC Sport . 6 August 2023.
  7. News: Wobschall . Leon . 2 July 2024 . Leeds United transfers: 'Heartbroken' Leeds sell Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur for £40m as Joe Rodon joins for £10m . live . 2 July 2024 . Yorkshire Post.
  8. Web site: Who is Archie Gray? The Leeds United wonderkid from Scottish football royalty making his name with ENGLAND. Gavin. Berry. 14 April 2022. 2 November 2022. dailyrecord.co.uk.
  9. Web site: England MU17s squad named for EURO Finals . 18 May 2023 . EnglandFootball.com.
  10. Web site: Report: England Elite League squad 0–3 Italy. Emglandfootball.com. 17 November 2023. 16 November 2023.
  11. News: 2024-03-22 . Elliott scores twice in big England U21s win . 2024-03-22 . . en-GB.
  12. News: Archie Gray: 'My childhood dream was to win the Champions League with Leeds' . The Guardian . Ross . Heppenstall . 2023-12-08 . 2023-12-08.
  13. News: Who's next in the Gray dynasty . The Maily on Sunday . William . Pickworth. 2023-12-08 . 2023-12-08.
  14. News: Eddie Gray . Beyond Magazine . Claire . Trickett . 2023-12-08 . 2023-12-08.
  15. News: Crysencio Summerville named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season . EFL . 14 April 2024 . 14 April 2024.
  16. News: 2023/24 Young Player of the Year: Archie Gray . Leeds United FC . 18 April 2024 . 1 May 2024.
  17. News: PFA Championship Team of the Year . PFA . 20 August 2024.