Leeds United, with one of the youngest squads in the competition, leads the Championship table.
Only Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers have younger average ages among the players played so far this season than Leeds, so everything is pointing to a very bright future at Elland Road.
Even Pascal Struijk and Ethan Ampadu, who have been wearing the captain’s armband for the majority of the season, are only 24 years old, whereas Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville, the team’s two main attackers, are 21 and 22, respectively.
However, someone even younger has been playing exceptionally well for Leeds; that person is, of course, Archie Gray, who turned 18 recently.
Gray’s name was mentioned during the most recent news conference by Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate, who is already considered one of the best young players in all of English football.
However, the most recent annual NXGN ranking, according to GOAL, has gone one step further and listed him as one of the top 50 wonderkids in all of world football.
Given that players on NXGN’s list must have been born after January 1, 2005, Gray’s rising stock can only be advantageous for Leeds. This means that Gray has one more year to become eligible. Naturally, only performers whose birthdays fall after January 1, 2006, will be included on the 2025 list.
Given that he has never participated in a major league, Gray’s total ranking of 43rd is quite impressive. With any luck, Leeds will be in the Premier League and Gray will still be a regular in a year.
Players from some of the biggest teams in the world, like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and many more, are listed above him.
Although Europe’s elite are already keeping an eye on Gray, lists like this one demonstrate the level of respect that is shown to him, which can only benefit Leeds.
Leeds was able to sign him to a new long-term deal lately, and the more he develops at his current rate, the more outrageous the price they will be able to demand when the time comes for him to advance.
