Leeds United sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2024, during a window where Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter were also major sales.
Spurs activated his release Leeds United release clause, meaning the Leeds academy graduate was sold to Spurs after just one professional season at the club in the 2023/24 Championship campaign.
Gray helped Leeds out immensely financially but his departure threatened to be a major blow for the Whites, having also sold that key attacking duo and therefore needing to rebuild the squad for the second consecutive summer.
After disappointment at Wembley just over a year ago, Leeds instead secured the title last season. In that same campaign, Gray won the Europa League with Spurs and he will face Leeds on Saturday as a Champions League player.
Thomas Frank details what next for Archie Gray ahead of Leeds United vs Tottenham
Gray even referenced Leeds upon lifting the Europa League, with Gray’s Leeds colours continuing to shine through at Elland Road.
After a solid first season, Gray is rubbing shoulders with Cole Palmer and he continues to improve. The 19-year-old has been a victim of his own versatility, having been utilised at right-back, centre-back, and in defensive midfield.
Gray is a box-to-box midfielder, but that could hinder him without being specialised in such a role. Gray has thanked Leeds for his development, though, in spite of his usage at right-back more than his best starting role.
Farke detailed a bright future for Gray in yesterday’s press conference. In today’s, Thomas Frank provided his exciting verdict on the midfielder (via Tottenham Hotspur).
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He said: “He’s still a very young man. He played a lot of Premier League minutes [last season], across the defence and in midfield. So many experiences. Some tough moments and in those you develop. I really, really like him as a player.
Frank then added his advice to Gray going forwards, ahead of the trip to return to Elland Road for the first time. He concluded: “He needs to keep doing as he’s doing.
“Came on against Bodo, part of making a difference. He did well against Doncaster [Rovers] and learned a lot. I like everything about him.”
Such was the quality of his display against Doncaster, Spurs fans want Gray to start against Leeds at Elland Road. However, his game time has been more limited in 2025/26.
Archie Gray’s chances of starting for Spurs against Leeds
Following a number of new defensive and midfield reinforcements, Gray’s importance has waned and his place in the pecking order isn’t what it was.
It’s why some Spurs fans wanted to see Gray return to Leeds in the short-term on loan this summer, having featured in some capacity in 46 of Spurs’ 60 games in all competitions last season.
This campaign has seen Gray play some part in five of their nine fixtures. However, that is just a start against Doncaster and a start on opening day against Burnley.
Despite Farke’s comments and Frank’s, it does not seem likely that he will play from the start away to Leeds. In some ways, it’s a shame, given the midfield battle could be vital tomorrow and Anton Stach has fired Gray and Spurs a warning already.