Who is Archie Gray? The Leeds youngster linked to Man Utd and Arsenal

Updated: 18 Jun 2024 13:08 CDT
6 min read

Leeds failed to achieve promotion and as a consequence, a number of players may be sold.

But if there was ever a star player to remain at Elland Road, it would be boyhood fan Archie Gray.

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The midfielder played 52 games in all competition for the Whites last season, including their heartbreak at Wembley Stadium where they missed out on a return to the Premier League after losing to Southampton.

But just who is this young starlet and how good is he?

What position does Archie Gray play?

Gray is a central midfielder who can also play in the No.6 position and even as a right-back.

How good is Archie Gray?

Archie Gray is the youngster talent to emerge from the Gray family. His father, Andy Gray, rose through the Leeds academy ranks and had two spells as a player at Elland Road.

Meanwhile, grandfather Frank Gray played for the club during the 1970s and 1980s. He is the great-nephew Eddie Gray, one of the club’s greatest players who also managed the team.

Like the rest of his family, Gray junior started at the Whites’ academy level, joining at under-nine and quickly advancing through the Thorp Arch system. At just 15, he was named as a substitute for a Premier League match against Arsenal.

Last season, Gray made his senior debut at the start of the 2023/24 season, and even became a starter in Daniel Farke’s starting XI.

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Technically gifted, Gray’s close control allows him to navigate tight spaces effortlessly. He can initiate attacks by either carrying the ball or making use of his exceptional passing range.

Indeed, he can also be poised as a right-back, where he has shown himself to be astutely capable defensively.

Despite his age, Gray looked well in place in the Championship and appeared to be just fine with the division’s physical demands.

Against Chelsea, Gray even won the Man of the Match award in Leeds' FA Cup match at Stamford Bridge in February 2024.

Gray’s current boss Farke said of the teenager before the contest: "I was a bit more careful in my judgement at the beginning of the season because you can't just rely on a 17-year-old as a cornerstone of your team.

"You can't really predict how it will work out in terms of his body, how he can handle the load, especially in the Championship with such a tough, physical league. But he's doing excellently. My concerns I had at the beginning of the season have eased up a lot."