The 17-year-old Leeds United star has overtaken Jude Bellingham for the amount of minutes played by a player aged 17 or under in the Championship – but who is Archie Gray?
Who Is Archie Gray?
Born in Durham, Archie Gray joined Leeds at the age of 8 and has since progressed through the age groups to reach the first team.
In December 2021, aged just 15, Gray was named on the bench for Leeds United’s Premier League fixture against Arsenal, but he did not make an appearance.
Gray, who has been capped 22 times by England at youth level, was named in the matchday squad 5 more times in the 2021/23 season, but he would not make his debut for the club until 2023.
In August 2023, Gray made his Leeds United debut in their opening game of the EFL Championship against Cardiff City.
Since then, the English midfielder has been an ever-present in Daniel Farke’s promotion-chasing side, making 36 appearances for the club, scoring 1 goal and providing 2 assists.
ARCHIE GRAY FOR 2-1 😍
👊💛💙🇩🇪 #lufc #alaw #mot #leedsunited pic.twitter.com/7PYBO2ZKKP— DanielFarkeNot (@DanielFarkeBall) February 24, 2024
Archie Gray Style Of Play
A technically gifted central midfielder, Gray is an efficient passer and carrier of the ball. Possessing composure beyond his years, Gray’s ability to take the ball under pressure and break lines through dribbling or passing the ball is reminiscent of Frenkie De Jong.
Still just 17 years old, Gray is capable of playing as a 6, an 8 or at right-back and has yet to nail down his best position, although he has played most of his football as a deep-lying midfielder this season, according to Transfermarkt.
Archie Gray Overtakes Jude Bellingham’s Championship Minutes
After his impressive displays this season, Archie Gray has now overtaken Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham in regards to Championship minutes played in a season by players aged 17 or under.
Bellingham broke into the Birmingham City side as a 16-year-old in the 2019/2020 Championship season and accumulated 2694 minutes across 41 appearances.
Since then Bellingham has gone on to become a crucial player for the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and England.
Archie Gray is the first player to start 30 games in a Championship season before the age of 18 since Jude Bellingham in 2019-20 (32). #lufc pic.twitter.com/UNdcfMVzRa
— Jonny Cooper (@JRCooper26) February 26, 2024
Championship Minutes Age 17-Or-Under
- Ryan Sessegnon – 4,036 – 2017/18 – Fulham
- Archie Gray – 2,707 – 2023/24 – Leeds United
- Jude Bellingham – 2,694 – 2019/20 – Birmingham City
- Harvey Elliott – 2,392 – 2020/21 – Blackburn Rovers (loan)
- Lewis Cook – 1,962 – 2014/15 – Leeds United
- Ryan Sessegnon – 1,594 – 2016/17 – Fulham –
- Joe Gomez – 1,481 – 2014/15 – Charlton Athletic
- Jordan James – 1,183 – 2021/22 – Birmingham City
- Ben Brereton Diaz – 977 – 2016/17 – Nottingham Forest
- Henry Cameron – 668 – 2014/15 – Blackpool
- Jobe Bellingham – 612 – 2022/23 – Birmingham City
- Sheyi Ojo – 611 – 2014/15 – Wigan Athletic
- Luca Connell – 582 – 2018/19 – Bolton Wanderers
- Jobe Bellingham – 536 – 2023/24 – Sunderland
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