Leeds are “heartbroken to see one of their own go,” they said in a statement on Archie Gray’s move to Tottenham.
Ever since the final whistle blew in the Championship play-off final and condemned the club to another season in the second division, fans have been worried about their summer exit.
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Also on the list of players deemed too good to spend another year in the EFL was academy product Gray, a huge fan favourite, reflected in his relationship with father Andy, great-uncle Eddie and grandfather Frank, former Leeds players.
Now Leeds fans’ nightmare of losing Gray has come true: the 18-year-old was sold to Spurs this week.
After the deal was announced, Leeds issued a detailed statement about the decision, saying the club had made it “with a heavy heart”.
It reads: “Leeds United can confirm that Archie Gray has joined Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee after the north London outfit met a release clause triggered by the club’s failure to achieve promotion to the league in their first attempt.
“Gray came through the academy ranks at Thorp Arch and was promoted to the first team at the age of 15, starting on the Whites’ bench in their top-flight match against Arsenal in 2021.
“He then made his first-team debut at the age of 17 in the opening game of last season’s Sky Bet Championship against Cardiff City at Elland Road.
“He developed into a mainstay and flourished at right-back under manager Daniel Farke, playing a key role in helping the Whites reach the Sky Bet Championship play-off final.
“During his time at the club, Gray also featured on the international stage, earning 24 caps for England’s youth teams from U15 to U21 levels.
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“He now leaves the club after making 52 first-team appearances for the Whites in all competitions.
“It was with a heavy heart that the club agreed to the transfer, knowing the attractiveness of the Premier League and European football. However, the move has strengthened the board’s determination to ultimately return Leeds to a position where it can meet the footballing ambitions of even its biggest stars.”
Leeds also stressed that selling its homegrown talent would bring benefits in terms of complying with the Championship’s financial regulations.
It continued: “We understand that fans will be very disappointed to lose such homegrown talent and a family name so closely associated with Leeds United. However, this move improves the club’s chance of challenging for automatic promotion next season as we can now build a competitive squad within the league’s financial control regulations.”
“Everyone at Leeds United is heartbroken to see one of our own go and would like to thank Archie for all his efforts and professionalism. He leaves with the best wishes for his future career and in the knowledge that Leeds will always be his home.”
Leeds captioned their post on X with the statement: “Archie Gray is heartbroken to see one of our own go. With the best wishes from everyone at LUFC, he leaves the club to join Tottenham.”
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Gray himself has now made a statement about his exit on Instagram.
He posted a gallery with the caption: “I can’t thank everyone at Leeds United enough for the past 11 years, from all the coaches I’ve had since I first came here at the age of 7, to all the coaching staff today.”
“I have enjoyed every second of my time at the club and have so many great memories to last a lifetime, from watching in the stands to playing on the pitch.
“I would also like to say a huge thank you to all my coaches, especially Daniel Farke, for putting his trust in me this year and giving me the opportunity to play and teaching me so much about the game. I am so grateful to him and the entire coaching staff.”
“Along the way, I have made friends for life and am also grateful for every teammate I have been with since I was seven years old, right up to my teammates last season.
“And to the fans, you are incredible and I can’t thank you enough for the support you have given me and hopefully Harry over the next few years. Our paths will cross again.”
Even former Leeds player Jermaine Beckford told The Pitch Prospect he did not believe Gray would be sold when addressing his side’s play-off defeat in May.
However, he said he thought “one or two others” would be sold.
Although Leeds were at the top of the Championship at times last season, the club missed out on promotion back to the Premier League at the hands of second-placed Ipswich and champions Leicester.
They had to go into the play-offs and lost the final at Wembley 1-0 to Southampton – a game in which Gray played the entire match.
Now Daniel Farke is under pressure to lead the Yorkshire team back into the top division at the second attempt.