Leeds United have travelled to Germany for pre-season and here are the five starlets Daniel Farke has taken with his first-team squad.
Pre-season is always a time of hope and excitement and this summer is doubly so for Leeds United.
The club is preparing for the return to the Premier League and have already signed a raft of new players to help the cause.
Jaka Bijol, Lukas Nmecha, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Sean Longstaff and Gabriel Gudmundsson all showed promise in their debuts in the goalless stalemate with Manchester United on Saturday.
They have now been joined by Anton Stach, who became the sixth summer signing in a £19.9m move from Hoffenheim.
As well as new signings, pre-season tends to offer a rare glimpse at the youngsters coming up through the club’s academy.
Daniel Farke has given five prospects the chance to impress him in pre-season, with Harry Gray, Charlie Crew, Sam Chambers, Rhys Chadwick and Rory Mahady all making the trip to Germany.
Leeds fans are unable to watch their two friendlies in Germany live, as they will be behind closed doors and won’t be streamed, but will no doubt hear if the youngsters impress.
Here’s all you need to know about them so far.
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Harry Gray
Harry Gray is the most well-known and highly rated of the quintet.
The latest to emerge from the Gray family dynasty and the younger brother of Archie Gray, hopes are high that the young forward will also go on to be a success at Elland Road.
Gray made his debut in the 6-0 thrashing of Stoke City last season, which delighted the legendary Eddie Gray up in the stands.
His chance came during a fantastic season, in which he scored eight goals in 11 games for the Under-18s and seven in three for the Under-21s.
Gray also scored the winning goal in the inaugural National League Cup final, with Leeds’ youngsters defeating a senior Sutton United side to win the trophy.
Still just 16, big things are already being expected of Gray.
Charlie Crew
Leeds recruited Welsh midfielder Charlie Crew from Cardiff City in 2022 and he’s been a regular in the youth sides in the years since.
After making his senior bow in February 2024, Crew got his first sizeable chunk of first-team football when he headed out to Doncaster Rovers on loan in January 2025.
He started in 11 of his 13 games in League Two and impressed, but is expected to head out on loan again this summer.
Crew came on in the closing stages against Man Utd and applied himself well with a couple of important defensive interventions.
Sam Chambers
Unlike Crew, Sam Chambers had a bit of a nightmare when he came on against Man Utd for the final 16 minutes.
A creative midfielder by trade, the 17-year-old was brought on at right-back and struggled. His positioning was understandably awful and he was given the run around by the rapid Patrick Dorgu.
It’s a wonder Leeds didn’t concede with him in defence but it’s hardly his fault, given he was in such an unnatural position.
With two senior appearances already to his name, including a start in the FA Cup, Chambers will be hoping to get a chance further up the field this summer, though he has already been mocked by Farke in training.
Rhys Chadwick
If not for Gray, then the players that fans are most intrigued to see in action for the seniors this summer is Rhys Chadwick.
The 18-year-old playmaker enjoyed a fantastic 2024-25 season for the Under-21s, scoring eight goals and contributing 10 assists. That’s 18 goal contributions in just 24 games.
Despite his form, Chadwick didn’t even get a spot on the bench for Farke last term but he came on against Man Utd and is now with the side in Germany.
Given the need to upgrade on Brenden Aaronson, there’s nothing saying Chadwick can’t impress enough to make a permanent step up.
Rory Mahady
The one player who is unlikely to get any minutes this summer – unless a devastating injury crisis occurs – is young goalkeeper Rory Mahady.
Mahady signed a new contract with Leeds until 2028 this summer, so the club do rate him, but the 18-year-old is low down the pecking order.
He didn’t enjoy the best season last term, keeping just one clean sheet and conceding 36 goals in 20 games.
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