Leeds United finally announced that Harry Gray had signed his first professional contract at Elland Road earlier this week. For now, the doubt over his future has finally been lifted.
Leeds fans have been desperate to see Gray sign a professional deal, after he became the fifth member of the Gray family to play for the club. Leeds fans were delighted after the club announced his signature.
Gray has since appeared on the Leeds bench this season and having turned 17 earlier this month, Leeds announced that Gray has signed a “long-term” deal. The most Leeds can offer Gray is a three-year deal.
Under FIFA’s rules, a club cannot offer a player under the age of 18 a deal longer than three years. So, for now, Gray has put pen to paper on a contract until the summer of 2028. At 18, he can sign a longer deal.
Leeds United duo Daniel Farke and Harry Gray
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Adam Pope shares Leeds’ stance over selling Gray for PSR profit
The summer of 2024 saw Leeds rake in £40m for Archie Gray, Harry’s older brother, after Archie had clocked up more than 50 appearances for Leeds during Daniel Farke’s first season as Leeds manager.
It was a necessity, though heartbreaking for Leeds fans, after Farke’s men failed to get promoted. It meant Leeds had to sell to ease the books and Gray left, alongside Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville.
This time around, PSR remains an issue for Leeds. Managing director Robbie Evans said after the end of the summer window that Leeds maxed out PSR, and are teetering on the border after 10 new signings.
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If Leeds go over that limit, they would have to sell a player to avoid a point deduction by June 2026. While a new deal for 17-year-old Harry has been penned, there are concerns he could be used for PSR.
But Adam Pope has reported on the BBC’s website that Leeds are not considering Gray as a pawn in relieving their tight battle with PSR. Of course, selling Gray would be pure profit, like it was with Archie.
“The intention is that Harry sees his future at Leeds. who will hope to have secured another season in the Premier League and are not worrying about having to sell the family silver to stay within PSR parameters.”
Harry Gray chats to Daniel Farke before making his Leeds debut.
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Which Leeds players would represent profitable PSR sales?
In the summer, Leeds identified Pascal Struijk and Willy Gnonto as possible sales if the club needed a PSR boost. Pascal Struijk joined Leeds in 2018 from Ajax for a tiny fee, and any sale would now be pure profit.
Gnonto joined in the summer of 2022 for £3.8m on a five-year deal. With only a year left of his original deal, any sale above a fifth of the £3.8m fee would be deemed profit, such is the way amortisation works.
Ao Tanaka of Leeds United
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Ao Tanaka joined for £3.4m in 2024 on a four-year deal. Amortisation means £850,000 is chalked off every year. If sold, Leeds would make a profit from £2.55m upwards. Mateo Joseph is another good example.
Leeds have not paid a penny to sign Gray and that means, any fee received would be pure profit in terms of PSR and allow the club to instantly reinvest. But, Leeds seem hell-bent on keeping Gray, long-term.