Even better than Archie Gray: Leeds must rue selling £1m “animal”
Leeds United secured their promotion back to the Premier League on their second attempt after a dominant 6-0 victory over Stoke City at Elland Road.
The team put on a spectacular performance in West Yorkshire, highlighted by Joel Piroe’s incredible four-goal first-half display.
Their promotion was officially confirmed when Sheffield United lost to Burnley later that evening.
Daniel Farke must have been thrilled with the composure and quality his side displayed on such a high-pressure day, providing an unforgettable afternoon and evening.
The win also gave Farke the opportunity to hand 16-year-old forward Harry Gray his first-team debut, with the youngster playing eight minutes as a substitute.
Harry Gray will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Archie, who made 52 first-team appearances under Farke in the 2023/24 season before moving to Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs reportedly paid £30m for Archie, and he has had a mixed first season in the Premier League.
Archie Gray’s Struggles at Spurs This Season
The 19-year-old has had ample first-team exposure under Ange Postecoglou, appearing 41 times and accumulating nearly 3,000 minutes across all competitions.
From that standpoint, his season has been valuable for his development, providing him with significant experience in both the Premier League and Europa League.
However, Gray has yet to find consistent form, and that is the next step for him to justify the £30m Spurs spent on his transfer.
The former Leeds player needs to avoid becoming a utility player, filling in multiple roles without excelling in any.
Statistically, Gray has struggled in both attacking and defensive aspects of his game in the Premier League.
His contributions at the top end of the pitch have been limited, and his physicality off the ball has not stood up to the demands of the league.
He has made fewer defensive interventions than expected and even created more goals for the opposition (one) through errors than he has for his own team.
That said, it is still too early to label Gray a failure at Spurs. There’s ample time for him to grow, and his experiences this season could serve as a springboard for improvement in the 2025/26 season and beyond, proving his worth along the way.
At present, though, Leeds’ £30m sale of Gray looks like a wise piece of business.
Meanwhile, another former Thorp Arch graduate, Leif Davis, may have been sold too early.
Leeds United’s Mistake with Leif Davis
Davis, a product of the Leeds youth system who joined from Morecambe at U18 level, was sold to Ipswich Town for a reported £1m in the summer of 2022 after just 14 first-team appearances for Leeds.
He had also spent time on loan at Bournemouth during the 2021/22 season, playing 15 matches.
Despite being described as an “animal” by Scott Parker during his loan spell at Bournemouth, Davis’ form was not enough to convince Leeds to keep him, and he was sold to Ipswich that summer.
However, that decision has proven to be a mistake, as Davis has flourished at Ipswich, arguably even outperforming Archie Gray.
Now 25, Davis has shown great potential, particularly with his creative output.
During the 2023/24 Championship season, he registered 21 assists in 43 appearances, demonstrating that his ability was far too strong for second-tier football.
While Davis has had some misfortune in the Premier League with Ipswich, as his teammates failed to convert his 12 created ‘big chances’ into goals, he has still shown great promise.
He has excelled creatively, becoming a standout player for Ipswich, even in a challenging season for the club.
Although his defensive statistics raise concerns, with one red card, three errors leading to shots, and two penalties conceded, Davis has proven that he has the technical ability to thrive in the Premier League.
Leeds’ decision to sell him for just £1m now appears shortsighted, especially when compared to the £30m they received for Gray, whose performances this season haven’t matched that price tag.
Leeds’ decision to sell Davis before he had the chance to showcase his potential with regular first-team football at Elland Road looks like a missed opportunity, especially under Farke’s guidance.
It’s a shame the club parted ways with him before he had the chance to truly develop at the top level.
