Five days after his 17th birthday and becoming eligible to sign professional terms, Archie Gray has committed his future to Leeds United. The midfielder is one of the most highly-rated prospects produced by the academy in recent years, underlined by his first-team involvement under Marcelo Bielsa at 15-years-old.
In October 2021, director of football Victor Orta said: “I want to be the first person on La Media Inglesa (a Spanish outlet focused on English football), since in five years' time you’ll be talking about this guy non-stop.
“I want to be the first and because I already had the answer prepared yesterday, I want to say the name of Archie Gray, our youth team player. He’s one of those players you see every, I don’t know.
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“I remember Kun Agüero and saying 'what is this?' It’s something that happens once in a long time, so I wanted to mention Archie Gray.”
Gray has signed a first professional contract running until the summer of 2025 at Elland Road. After appearing on the first-team bench five times last season, Gray would turn heads last summer on his senior debut.
The teenager controlled the friendly with Championship Blackpool before then head coach Jesse Marsch made it clear Gray would remain a part of the senior set-up through this season. Injuries have hampered that progress, but the midfielder returned to action with the under-21s last week.
Yesterday, Javi Gracia mentioned Gray as one of the midfielders they have involved in the squad as solutions for Tyler Adams’s new injury. This new deal delivers on the prediction many inside United expected another member of the Gray dynasty to play for the club.
The teen follows in the footsteps of his father Andy, grandfather Frank and great-uncle Eddie through the Elland Road gates.
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