Soccer Football - Premier League - Leeds United v Arsenal - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - December 18, 2021 Leeds United's Archie Gray during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Scott Heppell EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Plenty of Leeds United reporters have been reacting to the news of Archie Gray’s first professional contract at Elland Road.
The Lowdown: Two-and-a-half-year deal
The Whites confirmed on Friday afternoon that Gray has signed a first professional contract with the club. Gray turned 17 years of age last weekend and has now put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal with his boyhood club.
The midfielder was first used in a Premier League matchday squad at the age of 15 under Marcelo Bielsa but is yet to make his senior debut.
He has made plenty of appearances for Leeds at U18 and U21 level, contributing to seven goals in 31 games in total. His highlight at the club so far on the pith is arguably a brilliant long-range strike against Manchester United for the U21s at Elland Road.
Former manager Jesse Marsch was also seemingly a big fan of the teenager, saying this after a pre-season game last summer:
“I consider Archie a first-team player at 16.
“He has cleverness, the flexibility to play in multiple positions, he can run, he sees things quickly, he’s aggressive against the ball and he’s fearless. I think he’s got the full package.”
The Latest: Media buzz
Following the news regarding Gray’s first professional contract, a number of Leeds United reporters were quick to react.
Phil Hay said ‘this is good’, while James Marshment added it is ‘great to see Archie Gray tied down, an unreal talent who has every chance at making it big.’ Joe Donnohue meanwhile described it as an ‘important’ piece of business to get done.
The Verdict: Future star?
It looks as if Leeds feel they may have a future star on their hands in Gray, who you expect will go on and feature for the first team at some point in the future.
Javi Gracia is the latest Leeds manager to seemingly be left impressed with what he has seen in Gray, saying prior to Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Wolves that Gray and Darko Gyabi are midfielders he’ll think about using while Tyler Adams is out through injury.
Gray has been out with an injury of his own in recent months so may need time to get back up to speed around Thorp Arch, possibly by playing in the U21s, however, should Adams’ injury prove to be worse than initially feared, Gray could find himself in the matchday squad between now and May.
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