Leeds United academy graduate nominated for Golden Boy 2025 alongside Estevao Willian

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For a few years in a row, Willy Gnonto was nominated for the Golden Boy award, with a Leeds United academy graduate nominated this time around.

It’s an award which recognises the top 100 young players in Europe and has been organised by the Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport since 2003.

The award, ordinarily, will see 100 players under the age of 21 whittled down, and Gnonto was the last Leeds United player to make his way onto the longlist. Now, a 25-man shortlist has been revealed instead.

He did not win, but other academy graduates will hope to be involved in what is a prestigious award, where numerous winners have gone on to become world class footballers on the biggest stage.

• READ MORE: Leeds United up there with Liverpool after key Thorp Arch change

Spurs’ Archie Gray nominated for 2025 Golden Boy award

Gnonto’s nominations came in 2022 and 2023, which were seasons where Barcelona midfielder Gavi and Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid also won.

Bellingham scored against Leeds in that 5-4 thriller against Birmingham City, but the England international won 2023’s award for his exploits in a Borussia Dortmund shirt.

The full list of winners can be seen below, with Lamine Yamal currently the holder of the title from 2024 — and he is in esteemed company, it is fair to say..

Fabrizio Romano has since revealed the full list for the 2025 title, which includes Spurs’ Archie Gray, who spent 10 years with Leeds from the age of eight.

He is competing with the likes of Dortmund’s Jobe Bellingham, Spurs teammate Lucas Bergvall, and Estevao Willian of Chelsea.

• READ MORE: What Leeds United fans chanted about Archie Gray that even Ben Davies appreciated

Archie Gray credits Leeds United for his Spurs versatility

Spurs’ Archie Gray claims Leeds is his home, despite now playing for the Europa League winners for over a year now. Gray also had the opportunity to say farewell properly to Leeds recently.

Following that win over Man United, Gray has credited Leeds for his versatility. He said: “I’ve grown a lot and I’ve enjoyed it a lot.

“Wherever I’m put on the pitch I’ll try to do the same job, just give 100%, and that’s a thing Leeds do really well with all their young players.

“They always put them in every position on the pitch, so I think that provided me with a good base for playing in these different positions.

“So, I’m not going out there never playing in them.”