The illustrious successes of the Leeds United academy at Thorp Arch means that every year one talent that graduates carries with them the expectations and hopes of becoming the club’s latest hot property.
The Whites have indeed had a few talents to get excited about over the past few years, youngsters such as Joe Gelhardt, Charlie Cresswell, Leo Hjelde and Lewis Bate who have now somewhat gone into unfortunate obscurity.
While most Leeds fans will be left wondering what might have been for those two, their attention has been swept considerably by the emergence of one Archie Gray.
Throw in a surname like Gray in and around the West Yorkshire camp and the expectation to become a superstar on the shores of Elland Road instantly increases.
Son of former striker Andy Gray, grandson of ex-defender Frank Gray and great-nephew of club icon Eddie Gray, the 18-year-old is the latest edition of the renowned dynasty synonymous with the historic West Yorkshire club.
Certainly, Archie has a long way to go before he’s matching the heights of his decorated bloodline. Indeed, he’s only 18 and not even a year of first-team football at Elland Road has passed. However, the way he’s performing consistently for Leeds United right now, Gray is on his way to writing his own story and fulfilling his own glowing destiny.
After 40-odd games for the first team, the young Englishman has catapulted himself to become one of the country’s most exciting and highly-regarded teenage talents, leading to plenty of interest from the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle United, Everton and Crystal Palace in the recent past.
The Whites moved swiftly to quell all the noise regarding his future when they tied him down to a new long-term contract in January, putting pen to paper on a deal running until 2028 (LUFC official website, 16 January).
It’s no surprise that he’s been named in Goal.com’s annual NXGN list for 2024 which was released last week and he only went and followed that up with his first cap and goal for the England Under-21s against Azerbaijan on Friday (22 March) – making him the fourth youngest goal scorer in Three Lions under-21 history.
So how has Gray got to this lofty position so early in his relatively short career? Let’s delve in.
Who is Archie Gray?
Born in Durham, North-East England, Gray joined Leeds United at under-9 level.
He is the fourth Gray across three generations to represent the club, with his father, Andy Gray, having come up through the Leeds Academy and enjoyed two stints as a player at Elland Road.
Archie is the grandson of Frank Gray, who played for the club in the 1970s and 1980s, and he is the great-nephew of Eddie Gray, one of the finest players in the club’s history, who also went on to manage the team. Archie’s brother, Harry Gray, is also currently associated with Leeds’ youth academy.
He advanced quickly through the academy, and at the insistence of then-manager Marcelo Bielsa, an arrangement had to be reached between Leeds United and Gray’s school, the St. John Fisher Catholic High School in Harrogate, for Grey to miss classes so he could to practice with the senior squad.
For a 15-year-old experiencing an unexpected advancement in his development, Gray’s weekends balanced GCSE revision with a place on a Premier League substitute bench; mock exams during the day, and 35-yard strikes against Manchester United U23s by night.
The midfielder boasts an impressive record in youth competitions for Leeds, featuring in 37 matches, finding the net in 5 instances, and providing 7 assists along the way.
Grey was added to the squad for a Premier League match against Arsenal on December 18, 2021, at 15. If he had featured that day, he would have surpassed Peter Lorimer’s 1962 milestone as Leeds United’s youngest-ever player.
In the 2021–22 campaign, he was on the bench five more times but failed to play. The following campaign, then manager Jesse Marsch gave him his first-team bow in pre-season, featuring in a 4-0 win over Blackpool in July 2022, just a few weeks before he received his GCSE results.
It was a display of intent from the teenager and the following 70 minutes reinforced the belief within the squad at Thorp Arch: he is no passenger in senior football.
Marsch thought as much, giving the teenager high praise afterwards:
“I consider Archie a first-team player at 16.”
“He has cleverness, the flexibility to play in multiple positions, he can run, he sees things quickly, he’s aggressive against the ball and he’s fearless. I think he’s got the full package.”
His senior debut came at the onset of the 2023/24 season, and since then, he has become a consistent name in Daniel Farke’s starting lineup, featuring in an unfamiliar role at right-back – a position he has now brilliantly made his own and an experience which will certainly aid his development and learning once he does take on a midfield role full-time at Elland Road.
Gray has represented England at every youth level and now under-21 level as of Friday 22 March 2024 but is still eligible to represent Scotland who have previously been interested in touting his services.
The Thorp Arch academy graduate featured in every game for the Young Lions at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship over the summer, as England bowed out at the quarter-finals stage. He would then go on to grab his first international goal in a 4-2 World Cup play-off win against Switzerland.
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 before being fast-tracked to the under-21s and it only took him five minutes to grab his first goal in a 5-1 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification win over Azerbaijan in Baku.
The striker made him the youngest Leeds United player to score for the England U21’s (18 years, 10 days), breaking the record of Alan Smith in October 1999 against Denmark (18 years, 345 days).
What is Gray’s style of play?
This is a footballing talent with a plethora of strings to his decorated bow and it is why he should go on to become one of the most prestigious and complete midfielders of his generation.
The likes of Liverpool haven’t been hot on his trails for no reason – this is a kid destined for great things just like his historic bloodline.
When Gray looks back on his career in future, he’ll look back on the 2023/24 Sky Bet Championship campaign as the season that provided him with the springboard he needed to flourish into becoming the complete and all-round central midfielder he was destined to be when he made the grade at Thorp Arch.
One manager he’ll greatly appreciate for his early development in Daniel Farke and the sole reason for that was the decision to deploy him regularly as a right-back rather than his customary midfield role.
In fact, the young Englishman was handed his first team debut at the start of the season playing alongside Ethan Ampadu at the heart of the Leeds United midfield against Cardiff City and Gray performed like a seasoned professional.
The teenager was assured and assertive with his passing whilst also thriving without the ball in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Elland Road.
Since then, Farke’s utilisation of Gray has not only been intriguing but incredibly meticulous, not only benefitting Leeds United’s tactical flexibility but with Gray’s development and learning very much in mind.
First and foremost, it was never Farke’s intention to deploy Gray as a full-back.
The Whites had three senior and capable options in the role once the campaign kicked off with veteran Luke Ayling, Djed Spence, signed on loan from Tottenham and another addition Sam Byram – who could also fill in a left-back – all quality options for Farke to choose from.
It looked as if Gray would be a regular in his usual midfield role, especially from the first ten games of the campaign:
However, due to recurring injuries and the departures of Spence and Ayling in the January transfer window, Farke thought it’d be best to deploy Gray as part of his back-line and the 18-year-old has rarely looked out of place ever since.
Before picking out Gray’s influence and progression in the position, it’s important to pick out his most impressive and unique attributes which have made him one of the most hugely coveted teenagers in the country.
Such characteristics have elevated him to become an instant success story in what’s been a brilliant campaign under Farke’s guidance, with the Whites currently maintaining a strong push for automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
When watching Gray, you’d find that he is very well suited to the defensive midfield or #6 role – but also possesses the attributes to strut his stuff higher up the pitch.
The tools and attributes of a deep-lying playmaker revolve around controlling the game or “pulling the strings” if you’d like. This involves dictating the tempo and maintaining possession so that the team is always managing the game in their favour.
These attributes include; a high footballing IQ, confidence with the ball, a range of passes, technical dribbling and vision – all of which Gray possesses in his weaponry.
However, nowadays the role transcends beyond the understanding of just dictating the tempo of a team’s style of play, they are also expected to receive the ball well under pressure from goalkeepers or centre-backs, play with their back to where their team is shooting as well as screening their back four and protecting it.
Gray can certainly hold his own when receiving under pressure or operating amidst relenting pressure from his opponents.
In the image below, Gray receives a pass in his own penalty area from goalkeeper Ilan Meslier, with two opposition players aiming to win the ball with a high press:
It’s important to note that Meslier doesn’t hand possession to Gray amidst the opposition press just to get rid of it. No, the French goalkeeper plays it to Gray in a pressurised area, confident in the teenager’s ability to evade it and drive Leeds up the pitch, and that he does.
The teen sensation displays superb deceptive movement with his body to fool the player behind him, feinting one way with his right foot over the ball before forcing the ball with the outside to advance the opposite way:
With this nimble and deceptive manipulation of his body and the ball, Gray evades the pressure and is able to progress the ball into midfield with excellent ball-carrying and close control:
Despite having a lanky frame, Gray possesses quick feet which enables him to wriggle out of tight spaces, creating room, to increase his passing options and progress play, manoeuvring his way out of pressure and advancing possession.
He performed similar actions against Premier League outfit Chelsea in their FA Cup fifth-round tie at Stamford Bridge in a 3-2 defeat on 28 February (see tweet below).
Gray superbly evaded Mykhailo Mudryk’s and Nicolas Jackson’s pressure to progress the ball up the pitch for his team, ultimately leading to the Whites’ equaliser from fellow academy graduate Mateo Joseph.
To become an elite operator in the role, all of the above characteristics must be performed to a consistent and measured level. While Gray still has some way to go before matching those elite levels, his qualities are those of a player who embodies such unique attributes.
A technically gifted central midfielder who is efficient and assured on the ball but also possesses a hunger and drive to win the ball back for his team, Gray is a special player with a very high ceiling, boasting an immense passing ability.
He’s a great ball carrier who is aggressive in physical duels and holds his own in terms of keeping his side compact out of possession, and whilst he is capable of being moulded into a #6, #8, or #10, he could even perhaps be best suited to a left-sided #8, an interior midfielder.
As stated previously, Gray possesses stunning vision to see passes before everyone else. With all the passes or through balls you’d expect from an advanced midfielder, the 18-year-old can also perform with superb efficiency.
Take his assist for Crysencio Summerville against Blackburn Rovers in Leeds United’s 2-0 win in December, in the image below:
Before the assist, Gray possessed the mind and intricate attributes to get out of a tight spot by playing a lovely one-touch pass and move with Georginio Rutter, buying him the room and the opening of a passing lane, disrupting Blackburn’s defensive line to thread a perfectly weighted pass for Summerville to finish.
While the above pass may seem easy to the untrained eye, it really isn’t. Many players of Gray’s age and profile may take an extra touch which could allow defenders to block the space, or they could perform an overweighted or under-weighted pass which Summerville can’t run onto.
For Gray, he knows the exact time to play the pass and the weight needed for Summerville to take just two touches to score.
The 18-year-old’s mental fortitude, maturity and unbelievable technique are of elite potential. The way he carries himself on the pitch even in unfavourable situations for Leeds is quite staggering. Such characteristics and mentality coupled with his level of understanding as a deep-lying midfielder have allowed him to perform expertly as a right-back.
Credit must go to Farke for identifying the role for Gray to refine and mature his game even further and it’s worked to such tremendous aplomb.
While performing in defence, Gray has been able to work on his positioning, defensive concentration, and marking but also the ability to problem-solve in possession, identifying different angles for a pass – attributes which will make him an even better midfielder once he’s deployed there permanently.
The role of a modern-day full-back has evolved massively.
Not only are they tasked with the responsibilities to defend well and guard against opposing wingers, they are now crucial and instrumental in many teams’ attacking play; providing width, final third penetration and are used as decoys in order for wingers and wide forwards to perform their best work in attacking scenarios.
Not only that, but elite coaches are now deploying their full-backs as auxiliary midfielders, taking up roles alongside a defensive midfielder when building up from the back in possession, overloading the opposition in the middle third and also providing an option in the half-spaces in the final third.
Because of Gray’s incredible technicality and understanding tactically, he can perform both responsibilities right down to a tee.
As pointed out earlier, Gray is press-resistant which means he can come inside from his right-back and consummately aid his side in progressing the ball into the final third but he’s also a tremendous outlet when Farke needs attacking width.
One of the biggest factors into why Archie’s so versatile/tactically flexible is his ability to play across all angles — while being receptive to his surroundings – it all leads to him becoming so ‘precise’ and meticulous with his actions.
The England under-21 international turns & spins so fluidly, but as addressed earlier in this piece, he’s able to manipulate and bend tight situations to his advantage through nimble footwork, close control and his rangy build.
As seen in the image above, he comes up against two Cardiff City defenders, with the aim of forcing play into the final third for Leeds United.
It seems an impossible situation and a tight spot for plenty of right-backs to escape.
NOT FOR GRAY.
Gray’s dribbling and ball-carrying are of a quality standard and it is what will make him an elite midfield component in future – the Englishman holds a dribble success rate of 54% and also ranks in the top 19 per cent of midfielders for progressive carries outside of Europe’s top five leagues, whilst also ranking in the top 24 per cent for successful take-ons.
In a progressive and possession-orientated system, Gray will be handed the conditions to thrive consistently and his development and learning have been hugely boosted by Farke’s flexible, fluid and expansive style at Elland Road.
A standout trait of Archie’s is his passing.
The Durham-born wonder possesses a top variety of passing — whether that be slick 5-yard passes round the corner, a 20 yard passes to dissect the lines and locate players in the half-spaces or even ping a 40-yard cross-field ball, he can do it…
The 18-year-old talent is ambipedal – incredibly adept at distributing the ball with both feet. As seen in the image above, for the England under-20’s, he picks out an attacking teammate in space with a delicious left-footed cross-field pass, despite his penchant for using his right.
Another part of his game that makes him so complete already despite his tender age, is his tackling. He times his tackles very well, loves to be aggressive in winning the ball back and excels in slide tackles.
Defensive midfielders with rangy, long-legged attributes, supreme athleticism and physical attributes but also with the ability to be adept and assured in possession have become a dying art in recent years but will soon be coming back into fashion once more.
Gray is yet to reach that profile and still has plenty of time to grow into one but already, the way he performs, it won’t be long before he’s in that company of unique physical midfield profiles.
Championship football certainly is aiding that progression. His rangy frame and long legs boost his ball-winning attributes, and he’s become one of the best defensive full-backs in the division. Gray ranks third in the Championship for dribblers tackled (56) and ninth for tackles won (55) (FBRef).
The English talent, however, has been susceptible to the odd lapses in his defending this season.
Take the game against Preston North End on Boxing Day. The Whites suffered a dramatic late 2-1 defeat at Deepdale, with Liam Millar grabbing the winner after being allowed to cut inside Gray before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top corner.
As a full-back, you’re always taught when facing up against an inverted winger (wingers who work best when the player’s strongest foot is opposite to the side of the pitch he’s playing on), to ensure that they do not cut inside to perform a shot or a cross, but force them onto their weaker foot.
In this case, Gray’s positioning and standing frame up against Millar were all wrong.
Millar reads it and is allowed the freedom to cut inside onto his stronger right foot, which he does brilliantly but Gray allows him the room to do that when he should be using his body positioning to show him outside instead.
Because of his positioning, Millar takes advantage of the room and space to move onto his right foot and carry inside the penalty area, leaving the teenager in his wake…
It’s those small details and lapses that allowed the Preston winger to grab the winner. That was early into Gray’s reign as a right back but he has gone on to make significant improvement ever since. However, it is something he will face relentlessly as a midfield player in future – a probable weakness that could well crop up again.
Given Gray’s mental fortitude on and off the pitch, and his willingness to learn and improve, he will iron that out with minimal fuss – such is the talent England have once again at their disposal.
The 18-year-old is not only garnering a reputation for his technical ability and work off the ball but also his superb engine room. We’ve touched on his impressive athleticism for a player so young, but Gray is a player who can run for hours, and that is evident in his admirable versatility and assuredness in fulfilling multiple roles for Farke and Leeds United.
The stats certainly back it up in the image above (SofaScore). Gray averages a whopping 83 minutes per game and has featured in 38 of Leeds’ 40 games in the Championship so far.
Gray is one of the first names on the team sheet for Leeds United, even when he’s tasked with fulfilling duties in midfield from time to time – a true measure of his tremendous impact but unbelievable growth and maturity at just 18.
What does the future hold for Archie Gray?
There’s no doubt Archie will go on to fulfil his enormous potential but that may not be at Elland Road like his aforementioned bloodline, with plenty of the elite clubs around Europe already keeping watch over his stunning progression.
According to HITC journalist Graeme Bailey (2 April), both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are currently scouting the Durham-born teenager. Not to mention, he’s already being watched – according to previous reports – by Liverpool and Newcastle United.
Whether those interests lead to a formal approach once the season comes to a close remains another matter, because should the Whites go on to claim their return to the top-flight next season – currently fighting both Ipswich Town and Leicester City for the Championship title – Gray will surely still be a Leeds United player.
It’s why the West Yorkshire outfit are hell-bent on fulfilling their ambitions, so they don’t lose their star players such as Gray, Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto and Georginio Rutter.
Premier League status means they won’t be under pressure to lose them, can claim hefty fees as well as those players being convinced that another season developing in the top-flight would be beneficial.
For Gray though, another season or two at Elland Road would do him the world of good. An opportunity to further refine his craft playing regular football rather than a development benchwarmer at a big club should be at the top of his future agenda.
The big clubs will always be there for him to choose from. For now, development is the name of the game for the 18-year-old sensation because the way things are looking right now, he could well become the best of his historic family line.
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