Leeds United: Archie Gray vs Chelsea crowns stunning overhaul after quadruple Elland Road exit
Archie Gray’s outstanding performance at the heart of the Leeds United midfield against Chelsea’s £100million pair was sparkling proof of an incredible success at Elland Road this term.
The 17-year-old academy product is arguably the story of what is shaping up to be a memorable season after stepping into the breach for Daniel Farke last summer and not looking back.
With the teenager thriving against Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo at Stamford Bridge it has highlighted the threat of needing to replace him after a potential big-money exit some time in the future.
But at this stage of the campaign, with the last-minute 3-2 defeat to Premier League opposition the first loss of any kind since the start of 2024 and the Championship title back on the table after a wild 3-1 comeback win over table-toppers Leicester City, it is easy to forget where the Whites midfield was when Farke arrived.
Ethan Ampadu vital as first Leeds United signing of Daniel Farke era
The entire first-team unit in the side that was relegated from the top flight last term departed over the summer, forcing the German to start from scratch in a crisis during a summer of uncertainty, and yet Gray’s graduation from the academy has combined with three key transfers to leave the manager with a midfield to rival any in the division.
Weston McKennie’s unhappy loan from Juventus remained just that after the return to the second tier was confirmed, while Adam Forshaw’s injury-hit Leeds United career came to an end with the expiry of his contract as he left for Norwich City instead of agree a new set of reduced terms.
Marc Roca was out the door on a relegation-release-clause loan deal to Real Betis, where it certainly looks like he plans on staying, while injured star man Tyler Adams’ Elland Road career came to an inglorious conclusion after he pushed through a permanent exit to Bournemouth amid the threat of legal action.
At the same time incoming summer transfer business was delayed by a backlog of crucial developments, with the wait for the 49ers takeover from Andrea Radrizzani pushing back Farke’s appointment, and in turn new signings.
When Ethan Ampadu finally became the first new arrival from Chelsea for £7million [BBC Sport, 19 July] it meant the season started with the Welsh international and Gray as the central midfield partnership by default, but both stepped up to the challenge in a big way.
The need for depth was still obvious and although fans had to wait for it Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara were signed from Werder Bremen and Rangers respectively in the final days of the transfer window to provide it.
Yet the Bulgarian and the Finn have more than made up the numbers with both stepping in to excel after Gray and then Ampadu were subsequently required in defence, with the teenager supplanting Luke Ayling with Djed Spence injured at right-back earlier this term, and the 23-year-old filling in after injury to Pascal Struijk.
Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev complete incredible four-man overhaul at Elland Road
Additions to any squad can be a lottery at the best of times, as last year’s patchy transfer business under Victor Orta proved, so for the Whites to require an entire new midfield ahead of this season and strike gold four times out of four is a stunning achievement.
If the season doesn’t end in promotion from here then it will be a huge disappointment, but the fact that Farke has his side competing for top spot in a Championship season where four sides are maintaining such a pace owes a great deal to the success of the midfield additions.
Chelsea came out on top in the FA Cup in midweek (28 February) but their massive spending in the past two seasons has shown that money doesn’t guarantee success in the transfer market, so it can’t be underestimated how Gretar Steinsson and Nick Hammond got it right on all three of their signings, while Gray’s emergence proved to be perfect timing.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay says the 49ers provided a direct route to secure a transfer which left rivals with a “bitter taste”.
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