A Leeds United player who the club made a millionaire at a young age has returned to the club.

Leeds’ youngest ever players

The Whites have had some brilliant teenagers come through their Thorp Arch academy in recent years, with Harry Gray the latest youth product who looks destined for a regular first-team role.

The forward, younger brother of Archie, made his senior debut for Leeds on the day they sealed their return to the Premier League in a 6-0 win over Stoke City.

At the age of 16 years, 6 months and 13 days, Gray is in the top five of Leeds’ youngest ever players, with club legend Peter Lorimer top of the charts after debuting as a 15-year-old.

Peter Lorimer

15 years, 9 months and 19 days

Tom Elliott

16 years, 2 months and 25 days

Aaron Lennon

16 years, 4 months and 7 days

Harry Gray

16 years, 6 months and 13 days

James Milner

16 years, 10 months and 6 days

Neil Aspin

16 years, 10 months and 8 days

Aidy White

16 years, 10 months and 16 days

Simon Walton

16 years, 10 months and 25 days

Jimmy Greenhoff

16 years, 10 months and 26 days

Ryan Edmondson

16 years, 11 months and 16 days

Talking about Gray earlier in 2025, Daniel Farke said the teenage forward has the “confidence” and the “skills” to make it as a Leeds player.

“So he definitely has this confidence that you need but it’s also important to channel this a little bit and not to raise expectations too high. He is doing right now his first steps in senior level.

“He has many skills and we like his potential and professionalism. And how humble he behaves – with a few exceptions.

“But that’s totally OK, it would be a pity if your young players were not self confident. But we have to make sure he is not overdoing this. There is a long way to go, he has many things where he needs to improve.”

Another former Leeds youngster, Aaron Lennon, is a previous success story of the Whites academy, and he has made a return to the club.

Aaron Lennon back at Leeds after becoming teen millionaire

Lennon, a teenage winger at Leeds between 2003 and 2005, made 43 appearances for the first-team prior to joining Tottenham Hotspur for a reduced fee following the financial troubles at Elland Road.

Lennon, who actually made approximately £1.37m in his time at Elland Road from wages and bonuses, admitted his Leeds contract was “silly”, with “crazy numbers” that ultimately impacted his playing time.

“My contract was silly looking back. It was crazy numbers, and they were thinking he won’t play. But then I started playing. I was on the bench, and they couldn’t put me on because I was going to hit one of those appearances.”

“I remember Gary Kelly going mad and saying our best player is on the bench now. Our most in-form winger is on the bench. I was just sat there, and Leeds fans were singing my name.

“At the end of the season, Ken Bates told me ‘you are done at this club’ because of the money. It wasn’t even in a nice way. And I was like, ‘this is my hometown’. I was upset, and I remember going away and got the call saying they have accepted a bid, ‘you are going Tottenham’.”

It emerged last month that Lennon, now 38, has made a return to Leeds in a coaching role for the U18s, working with Rob Etherington and Alex Purver.

Jonny Howson also made the move back to Leeds after leaving Middlesbrough over the summer, helping the U21 in both a playing and coaching capacity.