One factor that the present Leeds United squad appears to be missing is the following nice academy product. Centre-back Pascal Struijk is a graduate of their academy, however at 26 years of age, he’s firmly established within the first group.
18-year-old Scottish attacker Sam Chambers has performed for the senior group, however has not even been on the bench this season,
After all, over the previous few years, some wonderful gamers have come by the Leeds academy system and made it to the primary group. Kalvin Phillips is one identify who springs to thoughts, turning into a key participant within the midfield at Elland Street earlier than transferring to Manchester Metropolis.
The opposite participant who suits the invoice was Archie Grey.
Archie Grey’s profession at Leeds
The 19-year-old is arguably one of the vital profitable academy graduates at Elland Street lately. He has deep household ties to Leeds, and got here by their academy earlier than breaking into the primary group.
In whole, the versatile midfielder, who was born in Durham, performed 52 video games for the membership. All these appearances got here within the 2023/24 marketing campaign, a season by which he chipped in with two assists.
After a profitable debut season in skilled soccer for Grey, the teenager, who may also play at right-back and did so 30 instances for the Whites, secured an enormous switch. He joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2024 for a price of round £30m.
Since transferring all the way down to North London, the 19-year-old has performed 48 video games for the Lilywhites. He’s as soon as once more proven nice versatility, enjoying full-back on each side, at centre-back and in his pure midfield position. After all, Grey was additionally a Europa League winner final time period.
Since Grey, Leeds haven’t had a prime academy prospect break into the first-team squad and set up themselves. Properly, maybe the following massive factor is ready within the wings.
Leeds’ greatest academy expertise since Grey
Definitely, if Grey is ready to break by beneath Daniel Farke and grow to be a longtime first-team participant, the identical door could possibly be open for future academy skills on the books at Elland Street.
Properly, maybe in the end, that participant can be Scotland youth attacker Lewis Pirie. The versatile ahead joined Leeds again in 2023 from Scottish outfit Aberdeen. After beginning out within the under-18s aspect, he’s damaged into the under-21s this season.
In his first two full seasons as a Leeds academy participant, his document reveals why he’s thought of such an “thrilling” prospect. At the very least, that could be a phrase that former Aberdeen supervisor Jim Goodwin used to explain him.
Certainly, Pirie has performed 29 video games for the membership over the previous couple of years. In that point, he’s discovered the again of the online on seven events, and assisted one purpose, too.
Having performed 1701 minutes, he has a minutes per purpose and help document of 213 minutes.
The 18-year-old is has already constructed up a robust status for himself. He can function on each flanks and up entrance, and has even performed deeper as a quantity 10 for the Leeds academy.
As we noticed with Grey, Farke loves versatility, which could possibly be a key distinction to serving to him attain the first-team.
|
Pirie’s document (min 45 minutes performed) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Place |
Video games |
Targets & assists |
|
Centre ahead |
8 |
2 |
|
Proper wing |
4 |
2 |
|
Proper midfield |
3 |
0 |
|
Left wing |
2 |
2 |
|
Attacking midfield |
1 |
0 |
|
Stats from Transfermarkt |
||
With the flexibility he affords and the clear purpose menace he can carry to the desk, Pirie could possibly be the right choice if Farke needs to carry one other academy star into the primary group at Elland Street.
Will probably be fascinating to see if the Whites boss will look to carry by one other younger expertise into the body. If that’s the case, that participant may very effectively be Pirie.
