'Heartbroken' Leeds United confirm £40m Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur deal with message to fans — YEP 2/7/24
By Graham Smyth
Leeds United say everyone at the club is ‘heartbroken’ but
insist Archie Gray’s £40m sale to Tottenham Hotspur will improve their
automatic promotion chances.
The Whites have confirmed the deal this morning after Spurs
met a clause in Gray’s contract that became active when last season’s promotion
push ended in Wembley play-off heartbreak. Gray initially looked close to a
move to Aston Villa late last week before Brentford moved into pole position
and Gray completed a medical. But Leeds pulled the plug on the deal with the
Bees over payment schedule disagreements and Spurs then swooped to sign the
18-year-old.
A club statement said: “Leeds United can confirm Archie Gray
has completed a permanent transfer to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for
an undisclosed fee, after the North London outfit met a release clause that was
triggered by the club’s failure to get promoted at the first attempt. Gray
progressed through the ranks of the Academy at Thorp Arch and became involved
with the first team setup at the age of just 15, when he was named on the bench
for the Whites against Arsenal in the top-flight in 2021. He subsequently went
on to make his senior debut in last season’s Sky Bet Championship opener
against Cardiff City at Elland Road, aged 17.
“Going on to become a mainstay and thriving in the side
under head coach Daniel Farke at right-back, he played a key role in helping
the Whites reach the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Final. Throughout his time
at the club, Gray also featured on the international stage, earning 24 caps for
England at youth level, from Under-15s to Under 21s. He now departs having made
a total of 52 first team appearances for the Whites in all competitions.”
Leeds say that the decision to agree to the transfer was
difficult but the sale will help them to stay within financial regulations and
build a promotion-worthy side for next season. The statement continued:
“Understanding the attraction of Premier League and European football, the
club, with a heavy heart, agreed the transfer, but the move has strengthened
the board’s resolve to ultimately return Leeds to a position where it can meet
the footballing ambitions of even its brightest stars. Whilst we understand
that supporters will be hugely disappointed to lose such a home-grown talent,
and a family name so synonymous with Leeds United, the move improves the club’s
chance to compete for automatic promotion next season by increasing our ability
to build a competitive squad within the league’s financial control regulations.
Everyone at Leeds United is heartbroken to see one of our own depart and would
like to thank Archie for all his efforts and professionalism. He leaves with
the very best wishes for his future career and in the knowledge that Leeds will
always be his home.”