Football
Archie Gray pens emotional farewell to Leeds United following Tottenham transfer
Archie Gray has posted a heartfelt farewell to Leeds United following his transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.
The 18-year-old Championship Young Player of the Year joined Spurs on Tuesday after agreeing a six-year contract with the Premier League club. Tottenham had agreed a transfer package with Leeds that cost them just over £25million with Joe Rodon heading in the opposite direction in an overall deal worth around £40million, which met the threshold for a clause within Gray’s contract after Leeds failed to earn promotion last season.
Gray played 52 times for Leeds last season as an integral player under Daniel Farke, but the club missed out on a spot in the Premier League despite earning 90 points as they lost in the play-off final to Southampton. With all the missed finances that come with promotion to the top flight, Leeds were put in a position where they needed the money from a big move even if Gray had indicated a desire to remain at his boyhood club.
In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, the teenager expressed his love for the club that he has left after more than a decade to join Ange Postecoglou’s side, leaving his 15-year-old brother Harry to continue the family legacy in the Leeds academy.
“Can’t thank everyone at Leeds United enough for the past 11 years, from the all the coaches I’ve had from when I first came at seven-years-old to all the coaching staff now,” wrote Gray. “I have enjoyed every second of my time at the club and have so many great memories for life from watching in the stands to playing on the pitch.
“I would also like to say a massive thank you to all of the managers that I have had but especially Daniel Farke, for trusting me this year and giving me the opportunity to play and teaching me so much about the game I am so grateful for him and all the coaching staff.
“Along the way I have made friends for life and I am also grateful for every teammate I’ve been with from the age of seven to the teammates last season. And for the fans you are amazing and I can’t thank you enough for the support you have given me and hopefully Harry in the next few years to come. We will cross paths again.”
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