David Storch bags first major Sheffield Wednesday transfer with Leeds United coup | OneFootball

The likes of Barnsley, Huddersfield Town, and Wigan Athletic are set for transfer disappointment involving Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday.

Huddersfield Town, Wigan Athletic, and Barnsley have all eyed a move for Leeds United starlet Harry Gray, but it appears Sheffield Wednesday have won the race to sign him in a huge early transfer win for David Storch at Hillsborough.

The youngster scored three and assisted one in 20 appearances for Rotherham United after joining from Leeds United in January, but the 17-year-old is now eyeing another loan away from West Yorkshire.

He can operate as either a striker or winger, with Harry Gray scoring for fun at youth level for Leeds. He is the brother of Archie, while Frank Gray is his grandad and Eddie Gray is his great uncle. His father, Andy, also played for Leeds.

Huddersfield had been backed to beat Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley to sign Gray, but it now appears as though a decision has been made on his future and another loan to League One beckons.

Huddersfield Town, Barnsley and Wigan Athletic miss out on Harry Gray deal to Sheffield Wednesday

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Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield were given hope of signing Gray when Alex Miller claimed Leeds would prefer to keep him in Yorkshire or at the very least locally, which perhaps offered hope to Barnsley and others in the race.

Despite West Yorkshire being the home of both Huddersfield and Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday appear to be the winners of this race. Graham Smyth of The Yorkshire Evening Post has the latest on the situation.

Gray is closing in on a season-long loan to Hillsborough to reunite with former Leeds captain Liam Cooper, with Smyth reporting that the plan for Gray was always to go out on loan again for the 2026/27 campaign.

He adds that Leeds have opted for League One again, with Huddersfield named as being beaten by Sheffield Wednesday as the pair were among the clubs keen to take him. He states: "The Owls have now won that race, with a deal close to being agreed between the clubs and the youngster on board with the move."

Harry Gray to Sheffield Wednesday has pros and cons

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On the face of it, Gray joining Sheffield Wednesday and not either Huddersfield or Barnsley could be a slightly unusual move. The Owls already have a squad featuring a number of experienced leaders alongside several promising young players, arguably leaving them in greater need of players in their peak years to bridge that gap.

Of course, the additions of Callum Slattery and Jordi Liongola help remedy that but Will Grainger's contract extension points towards a youthful-looking attack already. Therefore, another teenager would not necessarily appear to be the obvious priority as they target an immediate return to the Championship.

However, the move to Sheffield Wednesday could still make plenty of sense for Gray personally. Remaining in Yorkshire eases his continued transition into senior football, while the expectation and pressure that comes with playing for a club of Wednesday's size would provide invaluable experience if he is ever to make the grade at Elland Road one day.

If he can earn minutes in a team expected to dominate matches and challenge for promotion, it could accelerate his development considerably. From Leeds' perspective, seeing Gray tested in a demanding environment without moving far from home also represents an ideal stepping stone before assessing whether he is ready for Championship or Premier League football next.

For Wednesday, meanwhile, they can be happy to have one of English football's hottest young talents on the books, with that signature a major win for David Storch as he looks to put his stamp on the Hillsborough club.