Tottenham Hotspur is re-designing its playstyle under Ange Postecoglou, and the Spurs boss has put a lot of faith in young talents.
Among the next generation of players aiming to leave their mark at the club are Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Mikey Moore. These young players have already attracted attention with their potential and involvement.
Spurs fans are buzzing with the prospects of youngsters filling the ranks of the team. There was an added excitement as supporters eagerly searched for photos and moments that captured the trio together when Spurs beat Brentford 3-1 in match week 5 of the premier league.
The trio was subbed on in the 88th minute by Ange Postecoglou, Archie Gray replaced Pedro Porro, Lucas Bergvall replaced James Maddison, and Mikey Moore replaced Dominic Solanke. Both Solanke and Maddison were on the scoresheet.
Let’s take a deep dive into the journey of the trio so far –
Archie Gray
Archie Gray, born on March 12, 2006, is an 18-year-old midfielder currently on the books at Tottenham Hotspur. Born in Durham, Gray joined Leeds United at the under-9 level and progressed through the youth academy.
Hailing from a footballing family, Gray’s lineage includes his great-uncle Eddie Gray, a former Leeds United player, and his grandfather, Frank Gray, who also played for Leeds and Scotland. Tottenham signed Gray for an undisclosed fee, which was reported to be 40 million from Leeds United.
Gray was expected to join Brentford, but when Spurs came knocking on the door, he could not say no to the opportunity. “The club has a really strong connection with the fans, which I think is really important as well. So, I want to create a strong bond with them and the club.”
Archie Gray, while giving his first interview after signing for Spurs, elaborated that he was swayed by the prospects of playing in European competition and Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, who previously managed Celtic, a club that Gray is a huge fan of, “I really wanted to be a part of Ange’s project and not going to lie I am a big Celtic fan.” he added.
Gray is a central midfielder known for his versatility, passing range, and ability to read the game. Standing at 6 ft 2 in (1.87 m). His height allows him to compete physically in midfield position while providing an extra edge in aerial duels. He often plays in a box-to-box role but can also operate as a more defensive-minded player or in a more advanced position, depending on the needs of the team. At Leeds, he has also played as a fullback.
Archie Gray is represented by Hayden Evans, a well-known agent who represents several Leeds United players. Gray’s current contract with Tottenham runs until 2030, and Gray earns £75,000 a week. Gray wears the number 14 for Tottenham Hotspur.
In EA Sports’ FC 24, Archie Gray is rated 64 on his base card, with the potential to reach an overall rating of 82. His standout attributes include a passing rating of 64, dribbling of 67, defending of 60, physical of 61, shooting of 56 and pace of 70, which reflect his technical skills and work rate in midfield.
Lucas Bergvall
Lucas Bergvall was born on 2 February 2006 in Stockholm. He has been touted as one of the top Swedish prospects in recent years. His brother Theo Bergvall is also a football player who plays as a defender for Allsvenskan club Brommapojkarna on loan from Djurgården.
Bergvall’s mother, Malin, played for Djurgardens women’s team and his father, Andreas, also played semi-professionally in Sweden. Bergvall’s maternal grandmother, Lillemor, was a goalkeeper who played until the age of 48.
Bergvall joined Tottenham from Swedish side Djurgårdens IF on 1st February 2024 after a reported fee of £8.5 million. Bergvall was also scouted by Barcelona; however, he made the decision to move to Tottenham.
Talking to the media, Bergvall emphasised that it was not an easy decision to choose between Barcelona and the Spurs, “It was a very difficult choice; it was 50-50 for a long time, but I felt that the next step for me was Tottenham. It was not very easy to say no to Barcelona, it took me a long time to decide. It was a difficult decision.”
In his introduction interview, Bergvall emphasised that the young team of Spurs and the prospects of working under Ange in the Premier League prompted him to choose Spurs over Barcelona, “It was always my dream to play in Premier League; Tottenham is a young and energetic team with a coach he gives youngsters a chance.”
Lucas Bergvall is represented by agents Nordic Sky, who are also the representatives of Martin Odegaard. Bergvall has been assigned the number 15 shirt at Tottenham. Bergvall signed a professional contract with Tottenham for five years. His weekly wage is estimated to be around £15,000, similar to other players of his age group in the Premier League.
At 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in), Bergvall has an imposing presence in midfield; Bergvall is a central midfielder who thrives in deep-lying playmaker roles dictating the tempo of the game.
In FC 24, Bergvall is rated 61, with a potential rating of 80. His passing is attributed at 60, pace at 65, shooting at 50, passing at 50, dribbling at 67 and physical 67, making him a well-rounded midfield player.
Mikey Moore
Mikey Moore, born on May 8, 2007, is a 16-year-old winger from Tottenham’s academy. He is one of the most exciting prospects in the Spurs setup and is being closely monitored by fans and scouts alike. Moore was born in London, England, and joined Tottenham’s youth system at a young age.
Moore primarily plays as a winger, though he is also capable of playing across the forward line. His main assets are his blistering pace, dribbling skills, and ability to beat defenders one-on-one. Mikey Moore stands at 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm), making him well-suited to the role of a tricky, pacey winger.
His agility allows him to change direction quickly and evade defenders with ease. His salary is likely to be in the region of £4,000 per week, which is standard for players of his age group in top Premier League academies. However, as one of the most highly-rated young talents, Spurs have promised to increase his wages as he turns 18.
Given his age, Moore signed a three-year contract with the Spurs, as FIFA rules limit clubs to a maximum three-year term for under-18 players. Mikey Moore currently wears the number 59 for Tottenham Hotspur.
After signing his first professional contract, Moore highlighted that it had always been his dream and a big step towards his career. “You do not expect this at all; being an academy player, I had a few great performances, but you do not expect where fans will be chanting your name; I think that’s the best feeling ever. I never realised that one-day football is going to be my job.”
The 17-year-old also showed great maturity in his introductory video of Spurs, where the young talent noted the importance of staying grounded, “I always want to stay humble, keep working, that’s the main thing as a person, you always want to be a humble person.
The way you are as a person is always the main thing.”
Spurs boss Ange had praises for the young star in Spurs Pre-season, “For a very young guy, he adjusted really quickly. He’s come back pre-season and done really well in the games and in training. It’s great for this football club that he’s come through our academy and is already showing great promise.”
Moore’s FC 24 card has a base rating of 64, but he boasts a potential of 85. His standout attributes include pace 75, dribbling 66, and agility 74, which accurately reflect his explosive style of play on the wing.