Archie Gray has posted on Instagram for the first time since confirmation of his exit from Leeds United.
Gray officially joined Tottenham Hotspur earlier today for a fee believed to be in the region of £40 million, putting pen-to-paper on a six-year-deal.
His departure has been described as ‘heart-breaking’ in an official statement by Leeds having had to wave goodbye to a generational talent from the academy after just one year in the first team.
Gray had always been open to staying at Leeds for another season but the pressure on the club to sell and remain compliant with PSR became too much in the end.
It is said that Gray’s camp have been left frustrated at how Leeds have handled the situation, but hopefully not enough to deter the relationship between him and his family, who have a huge legacy at the club.
Gray posts message to Leeds supporters
News of his expected departure over the weekend was met with a fierce reaction from supporters. He was the one no one wanted to lose.
It is not often someone with such talent progresses through the academy and having to sell him makes it all the more frustrating that Leeds did not get promoted.
But with Joe Rodon coming the other way, the blow has been softened somewhat and 99 per cent of Leeds fans will be wishing him well in his move to Spurs.
And Gray has now posted on Instagram for the first time since sealing his move, thanking everyone for the last 11 years, in particular Daniel Farke and the fans.
He said: “I can’t thank everyone at Leeds United enough for the past 11 years, from all the coaches I’ve had from when I first came at seven years old, to all the coaching staff now.
“I have enjoyed every second of my time at the club and have so many 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 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 great 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.”
What Gray said as his first words as a Tottenham player
Gray effectively had the choice to move to either Tottenham or Brentford over the weekend and eventually chose the former after an 11th hour hijack.
Moving to Spurs will hand him the opportunity to play European football and work under Ange Postecoglou, which he claimed were both big factors.
He said: “Really excited, you know it’s obviously a massive club and an opportunity I couldn’t really turn down and I’m just really excited to play and get started with the team.
“It still hasn’t sunk in yet, to be honest, and I don’t think it will for the next few days and until we’ve played a few games, until I’ve got to meet everyone, it won’t have sunk in and I’m just really excited and looking forward to it and it’s a massive opportunity for me so I’m really excited.
“When Spurs came and I had the opportunity to play in the Champions League eventually and the Europa League this year, I couldn’t really turn it down.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I’m a massive Celtic fan so I love him [Ange Postecoglou] and my whole family loves him and I haven’t really said this to be fair.
“He’s also a massive factor because playing under a really good manager is really important for me as well and I’ve still got loads to learn because I’m only 18, so very important.”
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