The 18-year-old midfielder, who can also play at right-back, is on his way to north London after a breakout season at Elland Road

Archie Gray breaking into the Leeds United team as a teenager seemed remarkable to some outsiders. It came as little surprise to those that follow the Yorkshire outfit, though. Gray was pretty much born to play for Leeds and had been on the books of the club since the age of eight.

The sad thing now from the supporters' perspective is that the latest member of a footballing family steeped in the traditions of Leeds United is now leaving Elland Road, less than four months after turning 18.

Indeed, on Tuesday, it was confirmed that Tottenham had completed the signing of Gray from the Championship outfit, who desperately need to balance the books after failing to secure an immediate return to the Premier League last season, for a fee of £30 million ($38m).

So, who is teenage sensation with the impeccable Leeds lineage? And just how far could he go in the game? GOAL breaks it all down below…

Where it all began

To say that Gray comes from good footballing stock would be a massive understatement; it's more like a Leeds United dynasty. He is the fourth Gray across three generations to represent the club. His great-uncle Eddie is a legend at Elland Road, while his grandfather Frank, and his dad Andy all lined out for Leeds.

Gray admitted in a recent interview with Eddie on Leeds' Youtube channel that "I always had to live up to [the family name]. But my grandad, you (Eddie) and especially my Dad have been very good with me.

"I've also got lucky with the players that I've been able to watch, the players I've grown up with and the coaches I've had. But yeah, my Dad makes sure I run a lot – even before pre-season.

"So, I always try to make sure I'm the fittest when I come back because I think it sends a message to the manager and his staff that, you know… I'm ready!"

AdvertisementGetty The big break

Notwithstanding his impressive dedication to his craft, it was clear very early on that the player who joined Leeds as an eight-year-old was a truly special talent. Indeed, by the age of 15, he was already playing for the Under-19s and being touted as a future star by former Leeds sporting director Victor Orta.

"I remember seeing (Sergio) Kun Aguero for the first time and saying 'Who is this?'" the Spaniard told. "It's happened only a few times to me but Archie gives me the same feeling."

Coaching icon Marcelo Bielsa was just as taken with Gray, who was named on the Leeds bench five times during the 2021-22 season at a time when he was still studying for his GCSEs.

"Bielsa wanted me to train probably every day," Gray told . "Some weeks I’d be in school two days a week, other times it would be three days. The club and school had to come to an agreement but I passed my exams, so it worked out well."

He never saw any game time under Bielsa but his mere appearance in the match squad for a Premier League game against Arsenal on December 18, 2021 made headlines in England, marking Gray down as one to watch.

How it's going

The appointment of Daniel Farke proved a pivotal moment in Gray's fledgling career, with the German taking over as boss at Elland Road last July and promptly putting the teenager in his starting line-up for the first game of the 2023-24 Championship season, at home to Cardiff.

Farke subsequently admitted that he wasn't entirely sure just how Gray would cope with the rigours of first-team football at such a young age – but those doubts were quickly dispelled.

"You can't really predict how it will work out in terms of his body, how he can handle the load, especially in the Championship with such a tough, physical league," the manager told in February. "But he's doing excellently. My concerns I had at the beginning of the season have eased up a lot."

Farke initially utilised Gray in midfield but he ended up playing most of the season at right-back. However, he was deployed in his preferred position in the FA Cup clash with Chelsea on February 28 and ended up winning Player of the Match – even though Leeds were beaten 3-2 on the night – after wowing all and sundry with his dynamism and composure on the ball.

"I can’t believe he's 17!" former Arsenal right-back Lee Dixon enthused on . "He just has that look about him that he’s played 300 games!"

Getty Biggest strengths

Dixon is right: Gray's composure for one so young is startling. He is utterly fearless in possession, always looking to help out team-mates by receiving passes in tight spaces and awkward situations, so confident is he that he can manoeuvre his way out of them with his quick feet and deceptive turn of pace. Indeed, it was staggering to see him running rings around Moises Caicedo at Stamford Bridge, with Gray's pressure resulting in a turnover from Chelsea's £115 million ($145m) man that created Leeds' opener.

This kind of confidence is rare at such a tender age, but Farke put it down to the fact that Gray is as humble a character as you could possibly hope to meet.

"I've worked throughout my career with fantastic young players, so I don't like to compare that much, but it is fantastic what he's doing," the 47-year-old told . "When you are that young and getting that much praise it is not always easy to handle, but he's so, so grounded and so open to developing and working hard each day.

"The experience in his family helps a lot, and I have to give many compliments to the Gray family. They are doing fantastically well with him."