This page is dedicated to the rise of Leeds Academy graduate Archie Gray. Archie James Francis Gray joined the club's academy programme aged 9 and has progressed within the club’s Academy system throughout several age groups, including playing for the club's Under-23s at the age of 15.

 

On December 18 2021, Archie Gray was named in a senior matchday squad for the first time when he was selected by Marcelo Bielsa as a substitute for the Premier League fixture against Arsenal at Elland Road. Archie became the youngest ever player to appear in a senior Leeds United matchday squad in the club’s history aged 15 years, 281 days. If he had featured, he would have set a new club record for the youngest player to represent the club which is held by Peter Lorimer aged 15 years, 289 days in September 1962 in a 1-1 draw against Southampton.

 

Gray was named as a substitute on six occasions in the Premier League during the 2021/22 season but he did not feature in any matches. Leeds' rising star was also named as a substitute on seven occasions during the 2022/23 season but again was not yet handed his first team debut. 

 

The talented midfielder signed a two-year scholarship deal with his boyhood club in September 2022 and signed his first professional contract with Leeds on March 17 2023 when he agreed a two-and-half-year contract until the summer of 2025.

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Archie has also been a prominent figure throughout the England age groups and captained the Under-16s to win the Val-de-Marne tournament in November 2021. He has captained the England Under-17s and represented his country at the 2023 UEFA Under-17 European Championships in May 2023. He scored against Switzerland Under-17s in the competition's fifth-place finish match whilst playing at right-back.

 

Gray was called up the England Under-19s set up for the first time in September 2023 but withdrew from the squad after a minor fitness concern with Leeds wanting to manage his workload after featuring in all seven first team matches up until September 2 2023. 

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He was handed the number 22 shirt for the 2023/24 season by manager Daniel Farke and made his first team debut for Leeds on August 6 2023 in the opening match of the 2023/24 Championship season with a 2-2 draw with Cardiff City at Elland Road aged 17 years, 147 days. Gray became the youngest player (17 years, 147 days) to start a game for Leeds since Aidan White on October 26th 2008 v Millwall aged 16 years, 321 days.

 

The teenage maestro made eight consecutive first team appearances since his debut between August and September 2023.

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