Leeds’ most valuable academy graduates listed – £33m star and current Daniel Farke regular
Thorp Arch has always been home to some of the best academy products in the country.
Leeds United have shaped many careers in the Premier League and continue to do so under the guidance of the 49ers Enterprises.
Harry Gray is the latest to shoot through the ranks, making his Leeds debut under Daniel Farke in the 6-0 win over Stoke to seal promotion last season.
In fact, in Leeds’ 2-1 defeat against Tottenham last time out, they had academy graduate Pascal Struijk starting alongside Joe Rodon in defence.
Although he was signed from the Netherlands, the towering defender made his way through the ranks at Elland Road to become a star.
With PSR becoming more prominent in modern-day football, Leeds are smart to bring their young stars through when needed.
Archie Gray the star of Leeds United’s academy
Despite only playing one full senior year at Elland Road, Archie Gray quickly became a star.
After missing out on promotion to the Premier League, Tottenham swooped to sign Gray for around £30million [BBC], leaving the Leeds faithful gutted.
Gray made 51 appearances for the Whites, with his brother carrying on the family legacy in LS11.
The most successful graduate in recent years is easily Kalvin Phillips, though.
The casual fan will now only tell you about the nightmare years suffered by Phillips since leaving Leeds, but he has won everything there is to win, including the Champions League.
Loan spells at Ipswich and West Ham didn’t work out, and Leeds were even interested in another temporary move for Phillips.
The Yorkshire Pirlo has lived the dream with England, and Marcelo Bielsa is to thank.
There are plenty more to succeed through the gates of Thorp Arch, though.
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Leeds United most valuable academy products ranked
As of 14 October, football website transfermarkt has Gray listed as having the highest current market value of all players to have graduated from Leeds’ academy, at £33million.
He and Phillips are joined by Crysencio Summerville, Struijk, Lewis Cook and Jack Clarke in the top six, with Charlie Cresswell and Elia Caprile just behind.
Of course, a market value on transfermarkt is not what that player could be sold for, or has been sold for previously, so take it with a pinch of salt.
Struijk is the only current Leeds player in the top eight of this list, with values dropping significantly after this group of players.
- Struijk signed from Ajax in January 2018
- He has played 166 times for the Whites
- The defender has won the Championship twice
Struijk has been linked with the likes of Feyenoord over the past year, but Farke has consistently used him at the back, making an exit highly unlikely at this stage.
With Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw waiting in the wings, though, anything is possible.
Either way, you’re never too far away from finding the next star out of Thorp Arch, with Alfie Cresswell possibly next to make his mark on the senior ranks.
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