Tottenham Hotspur have all but completed their move to sign Leeds United midfielder Archie Gray this summer, with just a few pieces of paperwork to finalise before announcing the deal.
Archie Gray Set to Become Tottenham Player
Spurs Take Advantage of Brentford Failed Gray Move
On the afternoon of June 29, David Ornstein reported that Brentford had agreed a £35 million fee for 18-year-old Gray, with the Bees agreeing a medical for the youngster.
However, the next day, the transfer took a twist as The Athletic revealed that Leeds had rejected Brentford’s bid for the 2023/24 Championship Young Player of the Season, leaving the Bees stung in their pursuit of the midfielder.
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Not long after this, Ornstein returned with news that Tottenham had begun working on a deal to bring Gray to North London and on July 1, the journalist confirmed that the Leeds man had completed a medical and signed all the documents to secure a six-year deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with defender Joe Rodon going the other way.
What Kind of Player Tottenham Are Getting
Gray was one of the best English midfielders in the country last season, making 52 appearances in all competitions in 2023/24 as Leeds finished 3rd in the Championship. They were very close to making an immediate return to the Premier League but were beaten 1-0 by Russell Martin’s Southampton in the Play-Off Final.
Gray has been heralded by many for his excellent ability on the ball in both the passing and carrying phases. He is also capable of playing at right-back, his 1-v-1 defensive nous another big part of his game.
Leeds’ former director of football Victor Orta spoke to La Media Inglesa (via The Yorkshire Evening Post) in 2021 about what he thought of the teenage midfielder when he was coming through the ranks at Elland Road, saying he gave him the same vibes as a certain Premier League great once did.
“I remember seeing Sergio Aguero for the first time and saying ‘Who is this? It’s happened only a few times to me but Archie gives me the same feeling.”
Team-mate Glen Kamara even described Gray as a ‘different breed’.
Speaking at a post-match interview last season, Kamara heaped praise on Gray: “Obviously Archie, don’t have to speak about him! He’s just a different breed, only, what 17/18.”
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If Orta and Kamara’s words and Gray’s Leeds performances are anything to go by, the teenager could soon be hitting the ground running at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, leaving Brentford reeling about what could have been had they signed the young superstar.
