Demarai Gray

Demarai Gray

Gray pictured in August 2014
Personal information
Full name Demarai Remelle Gray[1]
Date of birth (1996-06-28) 28 June 1996[2]
Place of birth Birmingham, England[3]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[4]
Playing position Winger
Club information
Current team
 Leicester City
Number 22
Youth career
– Cadbury Athletic
2006–2013 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2013–2016 Birmingham City 72 (8)
2016– Leicester City 10 (0)
National team‡
2014 England U18 3 (0)
2014–2015 England U19 4 (1)
2015– England U20 5 (2)
2016– England U21 1 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:16, 1 May 2016 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18:16, 1 May 2016 (UTC)

Demarai Remelle Gray (born 28 June 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Leicester City.

Gray came through the youth system of Birmingham City, for whom he made his Football League debut as a 17-year-old in October 2013. In two-and-a-half seasons, he made 78 appearances across all competitions, including 51 starts in the Championship, and scored 8 goals. Gray signed for Leicester City in January 2016, and was a member of their 2015–16 Premier League-winning squad.

He has represented England from under-18 to under-21 level.

Club career

Birmingham City

Early life and career

Gray was born in Birmingham,[3] where he attended Frankley High School and played for Cadbury Athletic's junior teams. He joined Birmingham City's Academy as an under-11,[2] and took up a two-year scholarship in July 2012.[5] In a 2013 interview, Gray assessed his strengths as "pace, dribbling and technique", felt he needed to "score more goals", described himself in three words as "bubbly, calm and happy", and named Nathan Redmond as the biggest influence on him since joining the club.[2]

After impressing Birmingham manager Lee Clark in training, he was named in the squad for the Championship match against Millwall on 1 October 2013,[6] and made his senior debut as a 91st-minute substitute for Jesse Lingard in a 4–0 win.[7] He made his first start on 2 November, in a 1–0 league defeat at home to Charlton Athletic.[8] Gray signed his first professional contract, of two-and-a-half years, on 9 December.[9] Days after his inclusion together with academy teammate Reece Brown in a "Top 10 Football League stars of tomorrow" feature on the FourFourTwo website,[10] Gray scored his first senior goal. Entering the League match at home to Blackburn Rovers on 19 April 2014 as a second-half substitute with Birmingham 4–1 down, he received a pass from Federico Macheda and shot low into the corner to score the final goal of the game.[11] His performance over the season earned him the Academy Player of the Season award for 2013–14.[12]

Regular first-team football

Gray performed well in 2014–15 pre-season, and the management suggested he was showing increased maturity.[13] He started the first two matches of the season, but for the remainder of Clark's tenure as manager, Gray was used more as substitute than starter.[14] Against Leeds United in September, he was denied a penalty and booked for diving when apparently fouled by Giuseppe Bellusci; both managers thought it the wrong decision.[15] The following week, his first goal of the season gave Birmingham a 2–0 lead at top-of-the-table Norwich City, but he became unwell in the second half. Norwich scored while Birmingham were attempting to substitute him, and the match ended 2–2.[16]

He made his first start under new manager Gary Rowett in the 1–0 win at Rotherham United on 22 November,[17] and soon established himself as the left-sided wide midfielder in a 4–2–3–1 formation as Rowett regularly named an unchanged starting eleven.[18] On his tenth league start, Gray scored three times in the first half of the match at home to Reading on 14 December, which ended 6–1. It was his first hat-trick since his under-14 days,[19][20] and Rowett praised not only his clinical finishing but also his work off the ball and tracking back to cover in defence.[21] His performances during December earned him the Football League Young Player of the Month award.[18]

Clark had expressed concern that the club's financial difficulties would force the sale of players such as Gray,[22] and the player was offered a two-year contract extension.[23] A £500,000 bid from Premier League club Crystal Palace was rejected in September,[22] scouts regularly watched the player,[24] and media reports linked him with clubs including Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.[20] The club turned down a series of offers, the highest reported as £5 million, from Championship club AFC Bournemouth in the January 2015 transfer window. In a statement issued when the window closed, they said that "none of [those offers] reflected the ability and potential of the player", and expressed their pleasure at having retained his services.[25]

With loanee Lloyd Dyer available as an alternative, Rowett used Gray more sparingly, suggesting that his reduced effectiveness was a normal part of a young player's learning curve: the player needed to learn how to impose himself on a game despite increased attention from the opposition.[26] The Birmingham Mail suggested that Gray's potential as a matchwinner should not be ignored.[27] His solo goal on 11 April, in which he ran the length of the pitch to score the winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers, was his first since the Reading match and earned him the club's Goal of the Season award.[28] According to The Guardian, "It was not so much the 18-year-old's pace that impressed as his persistence in running at and then pressurising Wolves full-back Scott Golbourne into error, and the certainty with which he then slid the ball past the Wolves goalkeeper".[29] He finished the season with 43 appearances in all competitions, of which two-thirds were as a starter, and won the club's Young Player of the Season award.[28]

Departure becomes inevitable

After many months of negotiation,[23][30] Gray signed a new three-year contract with the club in July 2015.[31] At the player's insistence, a release clause was included in the terms.[32] He went into the new season feeling "stronger as a player, physically and mentally",[33] and produced some fine performances, as in a 2–0 win at Leeds in October, when he took advantage of confusion in the defence to score what proved to be the only goal of his Birmingham season,[34] and in a goalless draw at Preston North End in December.[35] He nearly marked his last appearance for the club, as a substitute in a 2–0 win at home to Milton Keynes Dons on 29 December, with a farewell goal. When the ball broke to him, "with a single silky touch and devastating burst he was in on goal, ready to put the icing on an outstanding team performance. He gave the goalkeeper the eyes, created the gap at the near post – and proceeded to hit the upright."[36]

In the early part of the season, Gray had asserted that "right now what's key for my development is playing games here",[37] but that "I will know when it's my time".[38] When Rowett selected Viv Solomon-Otabor to start ahead of Gray against MK Dons "with January coming up", it was clear that his time had arrived.[39][36]

Leicester City

Premier League club Leicester City activated the release clause in Gray's contract, reported as £3.7 million, and he signed a four-and-a-half-year contract on 4 January 2016.[40] He made his debut on 10 January, away to Tottenham Hotspur in the third round of the FA Cup. He started the match, assisted a goal by Marcin Wasilewski, and "showed glimpses of the pace that will cause Premier League defences problems" in the 2–2 draw at White Hart Lane.[41] Six days later he made his first appearance in England's top flight, as an 85th-minute substitute for Marc Albrighton in a 1–1 draw at Aston Villa.[42]

Consistency of team selection as Leicester maintained their position at the top of the league meant Gray's chances of first-team football were limited,[43] but teammate Danny Simpson highlighted the contribution of the squad players.[44] Former Sky Sports journalist Alex Dunn wrote that Gray "proved to be incredibly adept at killing time when coming on for Leicester as a late substitute".[45] He made the assist for Jamie Vardy's stoppage-time goal that secured a 2–0 win at Sunderland,[46] and against Swansea City, his run from deep, cross and parried shot set up a goal for Albrighton.[47] He had made ten appearances, all as a substitute, by 2 May when Leicester were confirmed as champions.[48][49]

International career

Gray (right) marking Maxwel Cornet in an under-19 match between England and France in March 2015

Gray was called up for an England under-18s training camp in November 2013.[50] He made his debut at that level on 18 February 2014, playing the whole of a 4–0 win against their Belgian counterparts in a friendly match at St George's Park.[51] Two weeks later, he was involved in England's goal as they lost 2–1 to Croatia in the first match of a double-header.[52] He received his first call-up to the under-19s for a friendly against Germany in September 2014,[53] and made his debut as a second-half substitute.[54] An ankle injury forced Gray's withdrawal from the squad for the 2015 European Under-19 Championship first qualifying round,[55] but he was able to play his part in the elite round. He started the first match, against Denmark, and was involved in England's second goal in a 3–2 win, when his near-post flick was deflected over the line by a Danish player. The Football Association (the FA) credit Gray with the goal, although UEFA record it as an own goal.[56] A substitute in the second group match, a win against Azerbaijan,[57] he returned to the starting eleven for the final group match against France, but a 2–1 defeat meant England failed to qualify for the finals.[58]

After taking part in a joint training camp for the under-20 and under-21 teams,[59] Gray was included in Aidy Boothroyd's under-20 squad for the 2015 Toulon Tournament. Starting the opening match on the left of a three-man attack, Gray gave England an 8th-minute lead with a shot from 12 yards (11 m), but Morocco twice took the lead before Chuba Akpom secured a 3–3 draw for England.[60] Gray was a second-half substitute in the next match, a win against Ivory Coast.[61] He made his third appearance as England lost to Mexico,[62] but took no part in the last group game or the third-place play-off,[63][64] and later admitted he had felt tired after a full season of league football and had not been at his best.[33] He and Birmingham teammate Reece Brown were called up for the under-20s' first matches of the 2015–16 season, a double-header against the Czech Republic.[65] In the first game, both Brown and half-time substitute Gray scored as England won 5–0;[66] in the second, despite what the FA's website called a "hugely influential" attacking performance by Gray, they lost 1–0.[67]

After Nathan Redmond withdrew through injury, Gray was called into the under-21 squad for European Championship qualifiers in November 2015.[68] An unused substitute for the first match, a goalless draw away to Bosnia and Herzegovina, he was not included in the matchday squad for the second, a 3–1 win at home to Switzerland.[69] Gray made his under-21 debut on 26 March 2016, in the reverse fixture against Switzerland, a 1–1 draw. His run led to England's goal, scored by Akpom, and according to head coach Gareth Southgate, "it was a super debut. He was a threat all night and I think the work he did at the goal was exceptional but he also put a real shift in for the team and did his work off the ball."[70]

Career statistics

As of match played 1 May 2016.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Birmingham City 2013–14[71] Championship711010—91
2014–15[14] Championship4161010—436
2015–16[48] Championship2410020—261
Total 7282040—788
Leicester City 2015–16[48] Premier League10020——120
Career total 8284040—908

Honours

Club

Leicester City

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists" (PDF). Premier League. 2 February 2016. p. 18. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Blue kid on the block – Demarai Gray". Birmingham City F.C. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Demarai Gray". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "Player profiles: Demarai Gray". Leicester City F.C. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2012 and 31/07/2012" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  6. ↑ Tattum, Colin (1 October 2013). "Lee Clark: Demarai Gray is in the squad. He was superb in training on Monday". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  7. ↑ Scott, Ged (1 October 2013). "Birmingham 4–0 Millwall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  8. ↑ Tattum, Colin (4 November 2013). "Birmingham City 0 Charlton Athletic 1". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  9. ↑ "Birmingham City: Demarai Gray signs two-and-a-half-year pro deal". BBC Sport. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  10. ↑ Goldman, Joel (16 April 2014). "The Top 10 Football League stars of tomorrow". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  11. ↑ Tattum, Colin (19 April 2014). "Birmingham City 2 Blackburn 4". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  12. 1 2 Walker, Andy (4 May 2014). "Robbo's double delight at #PA14". Birmingham City F.C. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  13. ↑ Tattum, Colin (5 August 2014). "Teen star Demarai Gray keen to keep up pre-season form". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  14. 1 2 "Games played by Demarai Gray in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  15. ↑ Tattum, Colin (13 September 2014). "Birmingham City: Demarai Gray is not a diver says Lee Clark as Blues boss hits out at the penalty that wasn't given". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  16. ↑ "Norwich 2–2 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  17. ↑ Dick, Brian (22 November 2014). "Rotherham United 0 Birmingham City 1". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  18. 1 2 3 Scott, Ged (22 January 2015). "Demarai Gray: Birmingham City teenager unaffected by speculation". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  19. ↑ "Birmingham 6–1 Reading". BBC Sport. 13 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  20. 1 2 Dick, Brian (15 December 2014). "Birmingham City's Demarai Gray ignores speculation linking him with Newcastle, Liverpool and Spurs". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  21. ↑ Dick, Brian (13 December 2014). "Clinical Demarai Gray delights Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  22. 1 2 Tattum, Colin (20 October 2014). "Lee Clark worried over Blues losing Koby Arthur and Demarai Gray". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  23. 1 2 "Birmingham offer Demarai Gray a two-year contract extension". Sky Sports. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  24. ↑ Dick, Brian (8 January 2015). "Demarai Gray not affected by rumours, says Gary Rowett". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  25. ↑ Dick, Brian (2 February 2015). "Birmingham City beaming with delight after holding on to prized asset Demarai Gray". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  26. ↑ Dick, Brian (12 March 2015). "Gary Rowett: Birmingham City prospect Demarai Gray has a first-team challenge". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  27. ↑ Dick, Brian (11 February 2015). "Demarai Gray has a knack of impacting the game from the bench and four other things we learned as Birmingham City went down at home to Millwall". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Burrell, Jack (3 May 2015). "Donaldson completes hat-trick at the Players Awards 2015". Birmingham City F.C. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  29. ↑ Rae, Richard (11 April 2015). "Birmingham's Demarai Gray's stunning winner dents Wolves playoff hopes". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  30. ↑ Kendrick, Mat (6 February 2015). "Blues are ready to reward Demarai Gray's exciting emergence with a bumper new deal". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  31. ↑ "Birmingham City: Demarai Gray agrees new deal". BBC Sport. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  32. ↑ Dick, Brian (2 January 2016). "Birmingham City transfer news: Gary Rowett reveals that Demarai Gray asked for release clause in the summer". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  33. 1 2 Suart, Paul (29 July 2015). "I'm much more confident ahead of the new season, Demarai Gray warns". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  34. ↑ "Leeds 0–2 Birmingham: Demarai Gray shines in Blues' win". Sky Sports. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  35. ↑ Dick, Brian (16 December 2015). "Comment: Birmingham City flier Demarai Gray should be praised for what he does not lambasted for what he doesn't". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  36. 1 2 Dick, Brian (2 January 2016). "Birmingham City comment: Transfer was inevitable for Demarai Gray and Blues need the money". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  37. ↑ Dick, Brian (4 October 2015). "Hopefully Birmingham City will see more goals from me from now on! – Demarai Gray". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  38. ↑ Dick, Brian (24 September 2015). "Birmingham City: Demarai Gray on why he is so happy". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  39. ↑ Kendrick, Mat (29 December 2015). "Demarai Gray: Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett explains why winger was left out of first XI 'with January coming up'". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  40. ↑ "Leicester agree deal for Birmingham winger". BBC Sport. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  41. ↑ Cryer, Andy (10 January 2016). "Tottenham 2–2 Leicester". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  42. ↑ Peach, Tim (16 January 2016). "Aston Villa 1–1 Leicester". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  43. ↑ Veevers, Nicholas (1 April 2016). "Demarai Gray hoping England form can help Leicester's run-in". The Football Association. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  44. ↑ Kelleher, Michael (27 April 2016). "Leicester can capture Premier League title without Jamie Vardy, says Danny Simpson". Sky Sports. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  45. ↑ Dunn, Alex (11 April 2016). "Premier League hangover: Foxes feast on Black Cats, as Spurs rout sorry United". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  46. ↑ Edwards, Luke (10 April 2016). "Sunderland 0 Leicester 2: Jamie Vardy strikes twice as City canter towards the title". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  47. ↑ Burt, Jason (24 April 2016). "Leicester City 4 Swansea 0: Who needs Jamie Vardy? Ulloa, Mahrez and Albrighton put Foxes eight points clear of Tottenham". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  48. 1 2 3 "Games played by Demarai Gray in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  49. ↑ "Leicester City are Premier League champions!". UEFA. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  50. ↑ Veevers, Nicholas (5 November 2013). "England U18s squad named for training camp". The Football Association. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  51. ↑ Callow, James (18 February 2014). "England pick up impressive victory over Belgium". The Football Association. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  52. ↑ Veevers, Nicholas (3 March 2014). "England Under-18s rattled by Croatia comeback". The Football Association. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  53. ↑ "Three U17 Euro winners make step up to England U19s". The Football Association. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  54. ↑ Hall, Chris (8 September 2014). "England U19s battle to hold hosts Germany to a draw". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  55. ↑ "Internationals: Demarai Gray out of England U19 squad due to ankle complaint". Sky Sports. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  56. ↑ Lavery, Glenn (26 March 2015). "Smith-Brown wonder-strike seals opening victory for U19s". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
    "UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2015: Elite round: England-Denmark: Statistics". UEFA. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  57. ↑ Lavery, Glenn (28 March 2015). "U19s grind out Azerbaijan win to close in on Euro finals". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  58. ↑ Lavery, Glenn (31 March 2015). "England Under-19s miss out after defeat in France". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  59. ↑ Dick, Brian (13 May 2015). "Birmingham City star links up with England squad". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  60. ↑ Callow, James (28 May 2015). "Chuba Akpom spares England U20s blushes in Toulon opener". The Football Association. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  61. ↑ Marshall, James (30 May 2015). "Impressive England U20s see off Ivory Coast in Toulon". The Football Association. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  62. ↑ Callow, James (3 June 2015). "England U20s finally lose after Mexico battle back in Toulon". The Football Association. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  63. ↑ Callow, James (5 June 2015). "England U20s beat China to set up battle for third with USA". The Football Association. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  64. ↑ Reid, Jamie (7 June 2015). "England Under-20s must settle for fourth after USA defeat". The Football Association. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  65. ↑ Veevers, Nicholas (27 August 2015). "England U20s squad selected ahead of Czech test". The Football Association. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  66. ↑ Veevers, Nicholas (5 September 2015). "England U20s kick-off with 5–0 win at St. George's Park". The Football Association. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  67. ↑ Owens, James (7 September 2015). "'We lacked a cutting edge', says U20s boss Keith Downing". The Football Association. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  68. ↑ "Demarai Gray called up to England U21 squad". Sky Sports. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  69. ↑ "Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 0–0 England U21". BBC Sport. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
    "England U21 3–1 Switzerland U21". BBC Sport. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  70. ↑ Callow, James (26 March 2016). "Gareth Southgate impressed by Demarai Gray's 'super debut'". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  71. ↑ "Games played by Demarai Gray in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
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