Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of wonderkid Archie Gray, leaving Championship side Leeds United ‘heartbroken’.
Tottenham Hotspur have been prolific in terms of signing young talents in recent times.
Radu Dragusin and Brennan Johnson have arrived over the last year whilst Pape Matar Sarr and Destiny Udogie are thriving after being loaned back to their former clubs.
Ashley Phillips, Luka Vuskovic and Lucas Bergvall have also arrived as Tottenham seek to build a squad for the future.
Another name can now be added to the list with Archie Gray arriving from Leeds United.
The 18-year-old saw a move to Brentford break down over the weekend and Tottenham have swooped in to make another exciting signing under boss Ange Postecoglou.
Leeds United react to Archie Gray exit
Tottenham have struck a £40million deal for Gray whilst sending Joe Rodon to Leeds on a permanent basis for £10million.
Rodon spent last season on loan at Leeds and has now secured a permanent move to Elland Road.
The Welshman’s move effectively means that Tottenham have paid £30million to sign Gray after an impressive season for Leeds.
Gray almost helped Leeds win promotion, only to just fall short to Southampton in the playoffs.
The teenager is now leaving but his departure is a difficult one to swallow for Leeds fans – and not just because he is a top talent for the future and a key player under Daniel Farke.
Gray represents a real legacy at Leeds; his father Andy played for Leeds, his grandfather Frank played for Leeds and his great uncle Eddie is an absolute Leeds legend.
This move really stings for Leeds supporters and the club acknowledged that pain upon confirming Gray’s exit.
Leeds posted on social media that they are ‘heartbroken’ to lose Gray, but wished him all the best at Tottenham.
The Whites went on to try and explain the move on their official website with fans understandably unhappy to see him leave.
Leeds noted that the deal was agreed ‘with a heavy heart’ but that the money has helped strengthen their hopes for promotion next season.
Leeds also highlighted the need to comply with financial regulations, believing that selling Gray was a necessity despite his potential and the family ties to the club.
“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.”
Tottenham have benefited from Leeds needing to sell and will see Gray as a player who can make an enormous impact in the years to come.
Leeds are clearly hurt from the move but Tottenham will just be excited to have landed one of English football’s top young talents, with Gray hailed as a ‘phenomenal’ player by Jermaine Beckford.
