Tottenham agree £40m deal to sign Leeds United talent Archie Gray

Conformable Fabrizio RomanoTottenham have agreed to sign Archie Gray from Leeds United for a fee in the region of £40m.

With negotiations between the two sides progressing in the previous days, a deal has now been struck and only the final documents need to be signed before the move can be completed, with Spurs already having “positive discussions” with the player’s camp and Gray. himself open to movement.

Meanwhile, Welsh centre-back Joe Rodon is also set to make a move in the opposite direction for around £10m after spending last season on loan at Elland Road.

The news comes after a busy few days for the teenager, who was due to have a medical with Brentford this weekend after the Bees agreed a potential £40million deal – including bonuses – with Leeds, only for the club to of Yorkshire to ultimately decline the offer due to the payment structure, according to Sky Sports.

However, Gray still looks likely to move to London this summer, albeit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium rather than the Gtech Community Stadium.

Having not made a senior appearance before last season, the 18-year-old was promoted from the academy by then-new manager Daniel Farke and subsequently became a stalwart in the German’s side.

Gray appeared in all but two of Leeds’ games, making 40 starts and claiming EFL Championship Young Player of the Season as his boyhood side narrowly missed out on promotion at Southampton in the play-off final.

Predominantly playing as a right-back, drifting into midfield and occupying central positions, Gray stood out with a comfortable ability and maturity in possession that belies his years, able to cleverly use his body and quick feet to contain the ball or progress. play by rounding the man or executing break passes.

As such, with these traits and his experience as a central midfielder throughout his youth career, the England Under-21 international would be an excellent option for Spurs in midfield or at right-back, where his reversed role at Leeds is similar with that of Pedro Porro from Ange Postecoglou.

If a deal is completed, Gray would mark Spurs’ third official signing of this transfer window, but their first all-new arrival. Precocious Swedish midfielder Lucas Bergvall signed in January to join in July for £8.5m from Djurgårdens IF, while Timo Werner’s initial six-month loan deal from RB Leipzig was extended until end of June 2025.

After finishing fifth and qualifying for Europa League football last campaign, the Lilywhites are looking to strengthen their squad ahead of an increased fixture schedule next season, which kicks off on Monday, August 19 against Championship winners Leicester City.

Travis Levison | Take football