Archie Gray is officially a Tottenham Hotspur player after putting pen to paper on a six-year deal with the London club, and he has compared Spurs fans to Leeds United supporters in his first interview.
The 18-year-old has left Leeds for a huge £40m fee, becoming the club’s third most-expensive sale in history behind Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, but ahead of Rio Ferdinand’s departure back in July 2002.
Leeds decided to cash in on teen Gray in order to comply with Profit & Sustainability Rules and avoid a possible points deduction. The Whites almost sold him to Brentford before Gray’s ‘change of heart’.
They rejected that move despite Gray traveling to Brentford and Tottenham made their move, allowing Leeds to request Joe Rodon in a move. The Welshman moves to Leeds in a separate £10m transfer.
Speaking in his first interview as a Tottenham player, Gray compared Leeds fans to the Spurs crowd:
Teenage talent Gray compares Tottenham and Leeds supporters
Even before he made his debut, Leeds fans were incredibly excited by Gray. The son of former Leeds striker Andy Gray, the grandson of Frank Gray and great nephew of Elland Road legend Eddie Gray.
That family dynasty has made Leeds fans upset and angry at his exit, but large proportions are starting to understand the deal with the silver lining of Rodon included and the explanation from Leeds themselves.
Gray’s love for Leeds fans though has not gone missing, telling Tottenham media in his first interview that the supporters were “massive” at Elland Road and compared them to the connection at his new club.
“We’ve got a really strong connection with the fans which I think is really important, obviously that was massive at Leeds. This club has got the same thing going on with the fans,” Gray said in his first interview.
“Like I said that’s really important for me. I just want to create a strong bond with the fans, and with the club. I’m really looking forward to that,” the teenager added, in a video posted on Tottenham’s X account.
When could Archie Gray make his debut for Tottenham
Spurs have six pre-season games scheduled as things stand. Gray was not involved in any international fixtures following the end of the campaign and he is unlikely to be given an extended break by Spurs.
Ange Postecoglou’s side take on Hearts on July 17 at Tynecastle, a fixture that Leeds actually played last summer. A game against QPR three days later before a trip to Japan and Korea for three fixtures.
Spurs face Japanese side Vissel Kobe and then a K-League all-star XI, before taking on Bayern in Korea. Then a return to London, to face Harry Kane’s Bayern again before the first league game against Leicester.
