Archie Gray made his first start for Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night after transferring from Leeds United, and Ethan Ampadu has praised the young midfielder.
The 18-year-old played the full 90 minutes in the third round of the Carabao Cup, helping Spurs come from behind to secure a 2-1 victory against last season’s FA Cup semi-finalists, Coventry City. Goals from former Leeds loanee Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson clinched the win for Gray and Spurs. While Gray performed well, Spence, who came on at halftime, was particularly impressive.
Gray’s move to Spurs followed an outstanding first season with Leeds, where the England U21 star made 52 appearances across all competitions, playing both in midfield and at right-back.
Ampadu highlighted Gray’s fearless nature in a recent Sky Sports interview. “He’s exceptional, both as a player and as a person. When you play alongside him, you forget he’s just a teenager—he’s fearless. While many players get nervous, nothing seems to faze him. He adapts to whatever the game demands, which is one of his greatest strengths,” Ampadu said.
Had Leeds won against Southampton in the play-off final, it’s likely Gray would have remained at the club, along with fellow new stars Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter. However, after Southampton’s 1-0 victory, they returned to the Premier League, while Leeds now faces another season in the second tier. Stuart Dallas told Gray after the final that these experiences would contribute to his growth as a player. “I told him these games will make you a better player, and you can see that now,” Dallas shared.
