Leeds United’s Thorp Arch academy is well-known for producing a steady stream of talent, and Eddie Gray is enthusiastic about a 15-year-old making waves behind the scenes.
While most of the academy’s players, including Charlie Crew, Mateo Joseph, and Pascal Struijk, were recruited from other academies, Archie Gray was entirely homegrown.
Of course, this was before the 18-year-old joined Tottenham Hotspur for £40 million this summer. However, the Gray connection at Elland Road remains strong, and the next member of the Leeds conveyor belt may be someone else.
Earlier this summer, Daniel Farke took six young players to Germany for a pre-season training camp alongside the senior group. One of the six, including Crew, was 15-year-old wonderkid Harry Gray.
Gray believes Archie’s younger brother Harry will make it big.
Despite being only 15 years old, younger brother Harry followed in Archie’s footsteps and played for Leeds’ first team in preseason. This comes after scoring eight goals in 11 U18 Premier League games last season.
In addition to the Thorp Arch academy’s quality and productivity, the Gray family has a strong bloodline. It is possible that another member of that family will join the four others who already play for Leeds.
Great uncle Eddie told The Daily Record that he believes 15-year-old Harry will be a “good player” and may join him, grandfather Frank, father Andy, and brother Archie in playing for The Whites.
“Archie grew up watching all of the English lads play, and he later played with many of them in the youth teams. It’s the same for his brother, Harry. “He’ll be a good player as well,” Eddie stated.
Unfortunately, Harry has been following Archie too closely.
During Jesse Marsch’s tenure, Archie was making waves in the U21 side and vying for a spot in the senior squad. The £40 million Tottenham Hotspur player played for Leeds United during the 2022 pre-season tour of Australia.
However, he sustained a long-term injury that slowed his progress until the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, and he made his senior debut for Leeds on the first day of the 2023-24 season, Farke’s first game.
Harry has done the same, resulting in an injury. The kid is set to be out of action for some time, and while a senior debut is still a long way off, this could push that date back.
