New Zealand age group international goalkeeper Henry Gray has agreed a new contract with English Premier League club Ipswich Town.
Gray (19) confirmed the extension to his contract, telling his Instagram followers: “Delighted to sign a new deal with Ipswich Town, looking forward to the next step in my footballing journey.”
Main photo credit: Henry Gray Instagram.
He first signed with Ipswich Town in May 2023 when the club was in the English Championship, agreeing a two-year contract.
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Last season, Town loaned him to National League South club Chelmsford where kept a string of clean sheets.
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Gray joined Ipswich Town from Central League club Waterside Karori.
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna said: “He’s a good goalkeeper and he’s grown into the group.
“He’s developing well, and (head of goalkeeping) Rene (Gilmartin)’s happy with him, and I think the goalkeeping department’s in a good place.”
He became the sixth New Zealander to play for Ipswich Town, following Lee Norfolk (1994-97) and All Whites defender Tommy Smith (2007-18), and loan players Rory Fallon (2010-11), Chris Wood (2015) and Monty Patterson (2016-18).
Gray won the Golden Gloves award when playing for New Zealand at the 2022 OFC U-19 Championship in Tahiti, which the side won to qualify for the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in Argentina.
He was in the training squad for the All Whites’ international friendlies against Greece and the Republic of Ireland in November 2023.
As a junior, Gray began his football journey with Upper Hutt City as a 10-year-old, before moving to Western Suburbs for youth football.
Other New Zealand players contracted to English Premier League clubs are Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest), Alex Paulsen (Bournemouth, loaned to Auckland FC) and Marko Stamenic (Nottingham Forest, loaned to Olympiacos).
Matt Dibley-Dias, who has been selected for the All Whites but not yet played for the national side, is contracted to Fulham and is on loan to Northampton Town.
This story was first published on September 26, 2024.
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