Tottenham star Archie Gray reacts to Ethan Ampadu’s Leeds message
Archie Gray’s current club, Tottenham, and his former side, Leeds United, both played their first pre-season fixtures on Saturday.
Leeds played out a 0-0 draw with rivals Manchester United in Sweden, whereas Tottenham beat League One Reading 2-0 in Berkshire.
Spurs will be pleased with their victory over Noel Hunt’s men, while the Whites held their own against Premier League opponents after winning promotion to the top flight.
Leeds and Tottenham are set for a Premier League clash at Elland Road in October, which will be their first meeting since Gray moved from West Yorkshire to North London last summer.
Gray reacts to Ampadu’s message as Leeds draw with Man United
Ethan Ampadu played a key role as Leeds won the Championship title last season, operating successfully as both a defender and midfielder.
The Wales international took to Instagram on Saturday, 19 July, as he shared a photo of himself wearing the captain’s armband against Man United, captioned with blue and yellow heart emojis.
Ampadu’s message attracted a like from Gray, who will hope to progress under his new Tottenham boss Thomas Frank.
Ampadu is ready for Premier League return
Football Insider verdict
Former Chelsea man Ampadu’s last season in the Premier League did not go to plan, as he suffered relegation to the Championship with Sheffield United in 2021.
| Ethan Ampadu stats | Championship 2024/25 |
| Appearances | 29 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
But since then, the versatile 24-year-old has featured in the Italian top flight for both Venezia and Spezia, before excelling in the second tier for Leeds.
Ampadu was a key figure for Daniel Farke’s men in the 2023/24 season, when he helped them reach the Championship playoff final, albeit the West Yorkshire side lost to Southampton.
But the Wales international did not let that Wembley heartbreak affect his performances last term, and instead made 29 league appearances as Farke’s side claimed second-tier glory.
Even though Ampadu’s Sheffield United stint did not shine him in a positive light, he has subsequently upped his game, and can help the Whites adjust to the demands of the Premier League.
Meanwhile, iconic commentator Ian Darke exclusively spoke to MOT Leeds News about what Sean Longstaff can offer Farke next season.