Youngster Archie Gray takes on Number 14 at Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur have secured the services of English prodigy Archie Gray from Leeds United as the North Londoners bring one of the most exciting teenagers in English football to White Hart Lane. The 18-year-old is the first signing at N18 this summer, and his arrival reiterates the club’s commitment to developing high-potential young players and shaping them as per Ange Postecoglou‘s playing style in the long run.
The Duram-born youngster will don the number 14 at Spurs as he pens down a contract that will run till 2030 with the Premier League giants. This not only secures his long-term future at the club but also signals the unwavering belief that Tottenham’s chiefs have in his potential to become a pivotal figure at the club and in their quest for long-term glory on the pitch.
Twelve players have played with the number 14 on their backs in the history of the club, and Archie Gray will become only the thirteenth player to don the iconic number while looking to carve a piece of his own history in Spurs books. Wearing the number 14 at a club like Tottenham at the age of eighteen is a thing of pride, and we will take a look at a few players who called the number their own in the past at White Hart Lane, which further inspires Archie to carry on its legacy.
Ivan Perisic
The Croat wing-back is the latest player to wear the number, as the 35-year-old incurred an injury-laden final season at White Hart Lane. He donned the number for a couple of years on books; however, he failed to make any significant impact during his time at the club before he left, i.e., on a free transfer.
Joe Rodon
The Welsh defender, who moved to Spurs in the summer of 2020, also donned the 14 number for his couple of years at White Hart Lane before his eventual loan deals. It is not usual to see a central defender with this number on the back. His time at Tottenham was spent on the bench for the majority of the games. Coincidentally, Archie Gray’s arrival seals Rodon’s exit, as the 26-year-old joins Leeds United on a permanent deal after his impressive season for Daniel Farke’s side in the Championship last season.
Georges-Kevin Nkoudou
Tottenham signed Nkoudou in the summer of 2016; however, he is yet another player on the list who found it difficult to make his mark at the club. He ended up being on the backup side of things for the majority of his time at White Hart Lane before he was eventually shipped to Turkey as Besiktas took him off Spurs hands after his four years at the club; he spent two of those on loans away from N17.
Clinton N’Jie
Another of the failures that donned the number fourteen at White Hart Lane. He went on to make an aggregate of eight appearances for Tottenham before he was eventually let go by the club.
Luka Modric
Another midfielder followed with the number between the Croat and N’Jie. Modric is by far the most reputed player to wear the number at Tottenham. He not only produced some splendid numbers during his time in North London but also went on to become one of the best midfielders that the football world has ever seen.
More Tottenham Hotspur News:
- 18-year-old Swedish prodigy officially becomes a Tottenham Hotspur player
- Tottenham join Manchester United in the race for 19 G/A Turkish winger
- Real Madrid enter the race for highly-rated Italian ace on Tottenham Hotspur radar
While Archie Gray is taking a new challenge at North London, the Real Madrid midfielder is a player that he can expect to come close to in terms of quality and output. If the teenager goes on to achieve half of what Modric has, he will go on to become a legend in the club’s history.
