Former Leeds United youngster Archie Gray looks set for a big future.
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Former Leeds United youngster Archie Gray has been tipped for a shock Tottenham Hotspur promotion despite only just turning 20.
Gray was a rare shining light in an otherwise miserable 2025/26 campaign at Tottenham, with relegation only avoided thanks to a final-day victory over Everton. The youngster only started 18 top-flight matches but claimed all three of his club’s Player of the Season awards, voted for by fans.
It’s set to be a big summer of change in North London as Roberto De Zerbi shapes the squad to his needs, with reports club captain Christian Romero could be among those to leave. That would leave a huge gap in the team with a new leader needing to be selected - and Tottenham legend Harry Redknapp has tipped Gray for the role.
“I think Archie Gray would be one of the people that you look to build your team around,” he told The Standard. “He looks a fantastic young pro, good player, and over the last two years, he’s probably been their best player, I think.
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“He is, I assume, a captain of the club in the not-too-distant future. Even next year, if I was there, I wouldn’t hesitate to make him captain, even though he’s only a young kid. He could be like Ray Wilkins, who became captain of Chelsea when he was very young. He’s good enough to do that.”
The huge praise for Gray comes following an end-of-season period in which the midfielder didn’t feature much. His last start for Spurs came on April 12 and only two substitute appearances followed during the relegation run-in.
De Zerbi opted to prioritise experience in a desperate fight to survive and Gray will hope to get more opportunities under the Italian boss next season, with no such immediate threat. The former Leeds youngster will also have a full pre-season to get to grips with the former Brighton manager’s complicated tactical plans.
But like Redknapp, De Zerbi sees a future in leadership for Gray. He said in May: "He is very young, [but] big potential as a player. I think he can become the future," De Zerbi said. I am sure he can become the future of this club and the captain of this club.
"He has to understand better what will be his position on the pitch. He can play in a lot of positions, but maybe I would like him to be more specific in one position. We are working on that, in individual meetings with individual clips.”