A right winger, Archibald began his career in the academy at hometown club Celtic at a young age. He won the 2014–15 Glasgow Cup with the U17 team and signed a three-year professional contract. Archibald progressed through the youth ranks to be called into the U20 squad for three Scottish Challenge Cup matches early in the 2016–17 season and made his only appearance as a late substitute for Regan Hendry during a 5–1 first round victory over Annan Athletic on 2 August 2017. Archibald made appearances for the U19 team in the UEFA Youth League during the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons and helped the Development Squad to win the 2015–16 SPFL Development League title, but he failed to win a first team call-up before departing Celtic Park on 9 June 2017 after his contract expired.
On 13 January 2017, Archibald joined Scottish League One club Albion Rovers on a development loan until the end of the 2016–17 season. He made 14 appearances and scored no goals for the club.
On 12 May 2017, Archibald moved to England to sign a three-year B team contract with Championship club Brentford on a free transfer, effective 9 June 2017. He made three appearances early in the 2017–18 season, but drifted out of favour in late September 2017. He finished the season as the B team's second-leading scorer, with 14 goals. Archibald departed Griffin Parkon loan for the duration of the 2018–19 season and was recalled on 2 January 2019. He gained experience as a wing back while away on loan and was deployed in that position for the B team during the second half of the 2018–19 season. Archibald contributed to the B team's 2019 Middlesex Senior Cup Final victory and was an unused substitute during the first team's final match of the season. After a difficult two seasons off the field at Griffin Park, he was released on a free transfer in July 2019.
On 2 July 2018, it was announced that Archibald had joined League Two club Forest Green Rovers on loan for the duration of the 2018–19 season. He scored the first senior goal of his career on his 21st appearance, with a "stunning" 25-yard injury time strike to seal a 2–1 victory over Northampton Town on New Year's Day 2019. A lack of game time led to Archibald's recall to Brentford after the match.
On 30 July 2019, Archibald signed a one-year contract League Two club Macclesfield Town on a free transfer, with the option of a further year. He made 33 appearances and scored six goals before his contract was cancelled on 13 May 2020.
International career
Archibald was called up to a Scotland U14 training camp in 2012 and has been capped at U16, U19 and U21 level. He was a member of the U16 squad which won the 2013–14 Victory Shield. Archibald made his U21 debut as a late substitute for Oliver Burke in Scotland's 2–1 2019 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifying win over the Netherlands on 5 September 2017.
Style of play
Brentford Head of Football Operations Robert Rowan described Archibald as "an inverted right winger, he's powerful, quick, direct and intelligent in possession". Of his preferred position, Archibald stated "I like either wing. I've played numerous positions. I've played left back, number 10, but ideally I like playing on the wing".
