Man City target and 18-year-old could save Leeds United millions in transfer fees
A clear route to the first team has been a part of Leeds United’s culture for decades, and the squad is renowned for its
ability to nurture and develop young talent.
Although there was always going to be an aggressive approach to Leeds’ squad building given the club’s enormous
financial resources, with the goal of making their most recent EFL stint short this season, academy products like
Crysencio Summerville and Pascal Struijk were essential members of Daniel Farke’s team in 2023–2024.
On top of that pair, there were a number of young players on Leeds’ books who had come through their academy set-
up, who would have been hoping for more chances this season in the Championship, and that has proven to be the
case.
Leeds is known for giving its young players chances, as evidenced by Archie Gray’s well-documented ascent in recent
years and by previous players like James Milner, Kalvin Phillips, Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson, Lewis Cook, and
Jonathan Woodgate.
Mateo Joseph’s introduction into the senior squad in a larger capacity than he did the season before and his steady
game contributions were encouraging early signs for this season. Farke must have faith that the younger players will
be able to contribute again in the upcoming campaign.
We have looked at two players who might save the club millions if they succeed in West Yorkshire over the next few
seasons, as Grey did after moving to Tottenham Hotspur for £40 million in the summer. The Leeds academy is
known for generating quality.
Charlie Crew
Charlie Crew has been loaned to Doncaster Rovers till the end of the season despite having little senior football
experience. The young player seems like a fantastic addition to Grant McCann’s squad in spite of this. Grey is
another star with a bright future, but they won’t be able to duplicate him every season.
Crew, who is only eighteen, has only participated in one senior Leeds match. He is the most recent gifted midfield
player to rise through the ranks in the last many years. Crew’s promise was demonstrated last season when he was
offered a professional contract, with the 18-year-old agreeing to terms to continue for a further two years.
Crew started his career at Cardiff City, where he played in the club’s academy from the age of seven. In 2022, he
transferred to Leeds for an undisclosed fee, joining the club’s U-18s initially, before being promoted to the U-23 team
in January 2023.
It’s been a rapid rise since then, with Crew involved in the first-team, but he isn’t as far along as someone like Gray,
hence his loan to develop further. Despite that, he is regarded as a top talent within the academy, and he won his
first senior cap for the Wales national team, alongside Leeds teammates Ethan Ampadu and Dan James against
Gibraltar, before ever making a senior appearance for Leeds.
He has frequently been placed on the bench, particularly when injuries have forced them overworked. He has only
participated in two senior football games, one for Leeds and one for Wales, however he has frequently been in the
matchday squad both this season and the previous one.
Before returning to Elland Road, he hopes that the temporary move to Doncaster will allow him to make an
impression. Once he settles in and is able to handle the rigours and speed of senior football and the men’s game, he
could be worth a fortune. He could even be able to dominate things for McCann in League Two.
Harry Gray
The family name speaks to the talents of both Archie (pictured above) and Harry Gray at Leeds. They are in good
company as the grandnephews of Leeds legend Eddie Gray, with another favourite with the Whites faithful in Frank
Gray as their grandfather, and they are also Andy Gray’s son; all of whom played for Leeds at one stage or another.
The exact replica of his brother, Archie’s 16-year-old brother Harry Grey, has previously been connected to a move
elsewhere, with Man City possibly being one interested party. Like his older brother, the Premier League is
reportedly showing a lot of interest in him.
Archie has stated that he would love to play alongside Harry and return Leeds to the European nights at Elland
Road. In December 2023, he described such concept in an interview with The Guardian. Harry has every opportunity
to follow in the footsteps of many other Greys in the upcoming seasons, albeit it might be more challenging to come
to pass in the near future.
Even if Harry is still a few years away from the starting lineup, he has a very promising future as a football player if
he is like his brother. If Archie’s wishes were ever granted, he would also become the second set of brothers and the
sixth Grey to wear a Leeds shirt.
He has been unable to participate more in Farke’s senior team plans or with the U-21 squad due to injury. He intends
to get past that, though, and will probably play in preseason once again this summer, regardless of the league Leeds
is in.
Although Leeds might be trying to hold onto Harry after losing Archie after just one season of football at Elland
Road, his name and genetics should help him succeed in the game. Like Crew, he would hope that a brief loan stay
away at some point will allow him to make an impression before returning to Elland Road, where he could eventually
be a regular, given his current position in the hierarchy.
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