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{{short description|English association football player (born 1991)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography {{Infobox football biography
| name = Luke Ayling | name = Luke Ayling
| image = | image = Luke Ayling with fan Nathan Reynolds (July 2020) (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| fullname = Luke David Ayling
| caption = Ayling in 2020
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|8|25|df=y}}
| fullname = Luke David Ayling<ref>{{Cite web |title=Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Leeds United|url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/efl-professional-retain-list--free-transfers---2017-18.pdf |access-date=17 June 2018 |publisher=English Football League |page=21}}</ref>
| birth_place = ], ], ]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|8|25|df=y}}<ref name="Hugman1011">{{Cite book |title=The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-84596-601-0 |editor-last=Hugman |editor-first=Barry J. |location=Edinburgh |page=29}}</ref>
| height = {{height|m=1.85}}<ref></ref><ref></ref>
| birth_place = ], England
| position = ] / ]
| height = {{convert|1.83|m|order=flip}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luke Ayling |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/luke-ayling-230706/ |access-date=4 January 2018 |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises}}</ref>
| currentclub = ]
| position = ]
| clubnumber = 2
| currentclub = ]
| youthyears1 = 2002–2009 | youthclubs1 = ]
| clubnumber = 12
| years1 = 2009–2010 | clubs1 = ] | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0
| youthyears1 = 1999–2009
| years2 = 2010 | clubs2 = → ] (loan) | caps2 = 4 | goals2 = 0
| youthclubs1 = ]
| years3 = 2010– | clubs3 = ] | caps3 = 89 | goals3 = 0
| years1 = 2009–2010
| club-update = 16:34, 22 September 2012 (UTC)
| clubs1 = ]
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2010
| clubs2 = → ] (loan)
| caps2 = 4
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2010–2014
| clubs3 = ]
| caps3 = 162
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2014–2016
| clubs4 = ]
| caps4 = 80
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2016–2024
| clubs5 = ]
| caps5 = 251
| goals5 = 11
| years6 = 2024
| clubs6 = → ] (loan)
| caps6 = 19
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2024–
| clubs7 = ]
| caps7 = 18
| goals7 = 0
| club-update = 23:59, 26 December 2024 (UTC)
}} }}
'''Luke David Ayling''' (born 25 August 1991) is an English ] who plays for ]. A product of ] who came to prominence during 2008-09 ]. He plays as a ], full back or ]. She was famed on 24th September 2012 for being the first woman in Fifa. '''Luke David Ayling''' (born 25 August 1991) is an English professional ] who plays as a ] for {{English football updater|Middboro}} club ]. Although normally playing as a ], he can also function as a ].

Ayling began his career at ] joining the club at the age of 8. He was part of ]'s double-winning team of the 2008–09 season, before signing his first professional contract in July 2009. Ayling was loaned out to ] in March 2010 and played four matches. At the end of the season he agreed a permanent deal with Yeovil. After four seasons with Yeovil, Ayling signed for ] where he played until 2016 when he signed a deal with ], where he was a mainstay as Leeds won the ] ], under manager ].


==Career== ==Career==
===Arsenal=== ===Arsenal===
Ayling was born in ], London.<ref name=Hugman1011/> He joined ] at the age of 8 despite being a ] fan,<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 December 2007 |title=More on: Luke Ayling |url=http://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2007/12/15/more-onluke-ayling/ |access-date=13 August 2013 |website=Arsenal Youth Blog}}</ref> progressing through the Arsenal youth teams, playing alongside ] and ],<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 September 2012 |title=Jack Wilshere will be back terrorising opponents again soon&nbsp;– I can't wait |work=Metro |location=London |url=http://metro.co.uk/2012/09/04/jack-wilshere-will-back-terrorising-opponents-soon-i-cant-wait-3817960/ |access-date=13 August 2013}}</ref> before signing scholarship forms with the club in the summer of 2007.<ref name="Arsenal professional contract">{{Cite web |date=30 June 2009 |title=Four youngsters turn pro while nine depart |url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/reserves-news/four-youngsters-turn-pro-while-eight-depart |access-date=13 August 2013 |publisher=Arsenal F.C.}}</ref> Ayling featured in the ] whilst he was still a schoolboy, and was an integral part of ]'s ] and ] double-winning team of the 2008–09 season, forming a crucial defensive partnership with ].<ref name="Ayling">{{Cite web |date=14 July 2009 |title=Player Profiles- Arsenal's resilient defensive duo Luke Ayling and Kyle Bartley |url=http://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/player-profiles-arsenals-resilient-defensive-duo-luke-ayling-and-kyle-bartley/ |access-date=13 August 2013 |publisher=Arsenal Youth Blog}}</ref> In July 2009, Ayling signed his first professional contract with Arsenal.<ref name="Arsenal professional contract" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 July 2009 |title=Ramsey agrees new deal at Arsenal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/8128885.stm |access-date=13 August 2013 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
Having joined ] at the age of 10, Ayling was an integral part of ] double-winning side of the 2008–09 season and signed his first professional contract with Arsenal in July 2009.<ref></ref>

Ayling's only call into the first-team squad came during the ]. Ayling was an unused substitute for a ] 1–0 ] group stage defeat to Greek team ] on 9 December 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 December 2009 |title=Olympiacos 1–0 Arsenal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8402103.stm |access-date=1 February 2015 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> Ayling departed the club in June 2010 after his contract expired.<ref name="Arsenal departure">{{Cite web |date=30 June 2010 |title=Luke Ayling joins Yeovil Town |url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/luke-ayling-joins-yeovil-town |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703133916/http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/luke-ayling-joins-yeovil-town |archive-date=3 July 2010 |access-date=1 February 2015 |publisher=Arsenal F.C.}}</ref>


===Yeovil Town=== ===Yeovil Town===
In March 2010, Ayling joined ] club ] on loan for an initial month,<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 March 2010 |title=Yeovil Town sign Arsenal defender Luke Ayling |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/8573050.stm |access-date=13 August 2013 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> and on 2 April 2010, made his professional debut as a second-half substitute in a 0–0 draw away at ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 April 2010 |title=Southend 0–0 Yeovil |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8583502.stm |access-date=13 August 2013 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> Ayling's loan was extended until the end of the season,<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 April 2010 |title=Luke Ayling remains at Yeovil Town for rest of season |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/8620993.stm |access-date=13 August 2013 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> Ayling played four matches in total, including his first league start in the final match of the season against ], on 8 May 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 May 2010 |title=Brighton 1–0 Yeovil |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8632675.stm |access-date=13 August 2013 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
Ayling was loaned out out to ] in March 2010 and made his debut against ] on 2 April 2010.<ref>{{cite news
| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/8573050.stm
| title=Yeovil Town sign Arsenal defender Luke Ayling
| publisher=BBC Sport
| date=17 March 2010 }}</ref> His loan was extended till the end of the season, Ayling played four games including his first league start in the final game of the season against ], on 8 May 2010.


On 20 May 2010, Ayling agreed a permanent deal with Yeovil after not being offered a contract at Arsenal. He linked up with Yeovil Town for pre-season training on 1 July 2010, subject to a successful medical. Ayling made his debut in a 2-1 victory over ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8842136.stm |title=Yeovil 2-1 Leyton Orient |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2010 }}</ref> Ayling made forty appearances in his first full season with Yeovil but had discipline issues receiving thirteen yellow and two red cards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=53032&season_id=140 |title=Luke Ayling:2010/11 Statistics |publisher=Soccerbase |accessdate=2011-12-29 }}</ref> On 30 June 2010, Ayling agreed a permanent contract with Yeovil.<ref name="Arsenal departure" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 June 2010 |title=Yeovil Town to sign Arsenal teenager Luke Ayling |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/8775990.stm |access-date=28 August 2017 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> He made his debut in a 2–1 victory over ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 August 2010 |title=Yeovil 2–1 Leyton Orient |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8842136.stm |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> Ayling made forty appearances in his first full season with Yeovil but had discipline issues receiving thirteen yellow cards and two red cards.<ref name=sb1011/> On 19 May 2013, Ayling played in the ] at ] as Yeovil beat ] 2–1 to earn promotion to the ].<ref name="2013POF">{{Cite web |last=Maiden |first=Phil |date=19 May 2013 |title=Brentford 1–2 Yeovil |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22499110 |access-date=28 August 2017 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>


After relegation from the Championship during the 2013–14 season with ], his contract expired at the end of the season in June 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 May 2014 |title=Gary Johnson: Yeovil's Stech, Ayling and Webster set for exit |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27424246 |access-date=17 July 2018 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> After rejecting the offer of a new contract at Yeovil, he left the club.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 May 2014 |title=Yeovil Town: Jamie McAllister released as five offered deals |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27392586 |access-date=17 July 2018 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
==Admiration==
Former Guardian sports writer ] lauded Ayling for his "reading of the game, communications skills, organisation skills, aerial prowess, two footedness and use of the ball" in his scouting reports column.<ref></ref>


==Honours== ===Bristol City===
Following his departure from Yeovil Town, Ayling signed for their fellow League club ] on 8 July 2014 for an undisclosed compensation fee, signing a three-year deal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 July 2014 |title=Luke Ayling: Bristol City sign Yeovil Town defender |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28192933 |access-date=1 February 2015 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> Ayling made his debut for Bristol City, on 9 August 2014, in their opening day victory over ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 August 2014 |title=Sheffield United 1–2 Bristol City |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28646633 |access-date=1 February 2015 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
;]

*]: ]
During the ], Ayling won the ], with Bristol City beating ] 2–0 at Wembley Stadium on 22 March 2015.<ref name="2015FLT">{{Cite web |last=Chapman |first=Caroline |date=22 March 2015 |title=Bristol City 2–0 Walsall |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31893144 |access-date=28 August 2017 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 18 April 2015, Ayling impressed for Bristol City playing 58 matches that season in all competitions as they were crowned League One champions following a 0–0 draw at home to ] and earned promotion to the Championship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 2015 |title=Bristol City 0–0 Coventry City |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32261976 |access-date=28 August 2017 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> Playing 33 times either playing right-back or centre-back during the 2015–16 season in the Championship, Ayling's form at the back helped Bristol City retain their Championship status.<ref name="sb1516" />
*]: ]

===Leeds United===
====2016–2020====
Ayling signed for Championship rivals ] for a fee of £200,000<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |date=18 November 2020 |title=Luke Ayling meets Arsenal unrecognisable from the player they released at 18 |url=https://theathletic.co.uk/2202593/2020/11/18/luke-ayling-leeds-arsenal/?article_source=search&search_query=ayling |access-date=31 January 2021 |website=The Athletic}}</ref> in August 2016 after former ] teammate ] recommended him to new head coach ] via a text message. Following an injury to right-back ] in the opening game against ], Monk decided to act and sign him on a three-year deal.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 November 2020 |title=Luke Ayling: How my Leeds United transfer came around |url=https://www.leedsallover.com/luke-ayling-how-my-leeds-united-transfer-came-around/ |access-date=31 January 2021 |website=Leeds All Over}}</ref> The fee would later be considered one of the biggest bargains in the club's recent history, as Ayling would go on to become a seminal figure in the club's resurgence and promotion to the ] four years later.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 March 2020 |title=Leeds Have Ended up with a Serious Bargain for Defender Luke Ayling |url=https://tbrfootball.com/leeds-have-ended-up-with-a-serious-bargain-for-defender-luke-ayling/ |access-date=31 January 2021 |website=The Athletic}}</ref>

Ayling's maiden season with the club would see the Yorkshire club compete as genuine promotion contenders for the first time in years. Characterised by a solid defence of Ayling, Bartley, ] and ], Leeds beat promotion rivals ] 2–0 to move into fourth place with only six games remaining.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 March 2017 |title=Leeds 2-0 Brighton |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39239223 |access-date=31 January 2021 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> The club would only win one of those remaining six games as they slid to seventh place and narrowly missed out on the play-offs. However, the campaign would prove to be a turning point for United with attendances up by almost a third, and the completion of ]'s takeover offering new hope.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 May 2017 |title=Andrea Radrizzani: Italian businessman completes Leeds United takeover |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40021074 |access-date=31 January 2021 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> Ayling, along with teammates from that season ], ], ] and ] would provide much needed stability after years of questionable recruitment.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 March 2019 |title=What happened to all 26 of Massimo Cellino's signings at Leeds United |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-massimo-cellino-transfers-15431943 |access-date=31 January 2021 |work=Leeds Live}}</ref>

The following ] season started brightly under new manager ] with Leeds topping the table after nine games and the right–back signing a new four–year deal with the club in the autumn.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 October 2017 |title=Ayling signs new deal |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/22457/la-signs |access-date=6 March 2018 |website=leedsunited.com |publisher=Leeds United F.C.}}</ref> They would still be in the play-off positions with Ayling an ever-present by the time they faced ] on New Year's Day. During the 0–0 draw, Ayling would sustain an ankle injury following a tackle by former Leeds teammate ] ruling him out for the rest of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 January 2018 |title=Leeds 0 Nottingham Forest 0 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42475345 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> ''The Whites'' would only win one of their 17 games as Leeds slipped in the bottom half of the table, before Ayling returned ahead of schedule in the final game of the season against ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 May 2018 |title=Leeds United 2 QPR 0: Ayling glad to play role in convincing Bartley |work=The Yorkshire Post |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-2-qpr-0-ayling-glad-to-play-role-in-convincing-bartley-1-9152679}}</ref>

The summer of 2018 would see the appointment of ] as head coach, as Leeds would again compete for promotion back to the ]. Ayling would achieve personal milestones during the season, with his first goal for the club coming against ] and his 100th appearance later being made at home to ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 August 2018 |title=Leeds United vs Rotherham |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45152568 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> He would also begin deputising for ] as captain.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aston Villa 2 Leeds United 3 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46582452 |access-date=23 December 2018 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> He would make 42 appearances as Leeds slowly lost their grip on automatic promotion, having led the division at Christmas, before losing to ] in the play-offs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 May 2019 |title=Leeds United 2–4 Derby County (Derby win 4–3 on agg) |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48196167 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>

After being injured towards the very start of 2019–20 pre-season training, Ayling would miss all the pre-season games and the start of the new season after undergoing ankle surgery.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sobot |first=Lee |date=26 July 2019 |title=Luke Ayling injury update as Leeds United squad flies out to Sardinia for Cagliari Calcio clash |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-latest/luke-ayling-injury-update-as-leeds-united-squad-flies-out-to-sardinia-for-cagliari-calcio-clash-1-9901106 |access-date=4 February 2021 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post}}</ref> On 8 August 2019, it was revealed that Leeds had rejected bids for Ayling during the 2019 transfer window in order to keep him at the club.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 August 2019 |title=Angus Kinnear interview&nbsp;— part two: Leeds United rejected £35m worth of bids, strengthened and addressed Financial Fair Play requirements |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-latest/angus-kinnear-interview-part-two-leeds-united-rejected-35m-worth-of-bids-strengthened-and-addressed-financial-fair-play-requirements-1-9924953 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post}}</ref>

He signed a new four-year contract with the club in October 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 October 2019 |title=Luke Ayling: Leeds United defender signs new four-year contract at Elland Road |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49890880 |access-date=4 February 2021 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> His first goal of the 2019–20 season came on 29 December 2019, in a 5–4 victory in a dramatic win against Birmingham City, with Ayling scoring a long range volley.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Birmingham City 4–5 Leeds United: Bielsa's men beat Blues |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50882301 |access-date=4 January 2020 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 30 December 2019, Ayling was chosen as the right-back for the "Football League Team of the decade" by '']''.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Schmeichel to Sharp: the Football League team of the decade |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/30/football-league-team-of-the-decade-schmeichel-sharp |access-date=4 January 2020}}</ref>

On 8 January 2020, after impressive performances during the month of December, Ayling won the ] PFA Player of the Month award for December 2019, beating former United player ] as well as ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 January 2020 |title=Luke Ayling named PFA Player of the Month |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/26051/luke-ayling-named-pfa-player-of-the-month |access-date=12 January 2020 |website=leedsunited.com |publisher=Leeds United F.C.}}</ref> Ayling's goalscoring form continued into February and March, where he scored the solitary goal against ] on 15 February, in a crucial home win that kept Leeds in second place behind ], bucking the trend of Leeds' three prior winless results,<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 February 2020 |title=Leeds United 1–0 Bristol City |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/match/2020/feb/15/leedsunited-v-bristolcity |access-date=15 February 2020}}</ref> and his "stunning volley"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Unwin |first=Will |date=7 March 2020 |title=Football League: Leeds move top of Championship, Coventry beat Ipswich |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/07/football-league-leeds-huddersfield-championship-coventry-ipswich |access-date=8 March 2020}}</ref> in Leeds' 2–0 defeat of ] on 7 March that put the team back on top of the Championship.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mellor |first=Jason |date=7 March 2020 |title=Luke Ayling's thunderbolt helps send Leeds back top with Huddersfield victory |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/03/07/luke-aylings-thunderbolt-helps-send-leeds-back-top-huddersfield/ |access-date=8 March 2020 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> His performances in February saw him awarded the ] title.<ref name="LeedsUnited.com">{{Cite web |date=11 March 2020 |title=Luke Ayling Named PFA February Player of the Month |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/26374/luke-ayling-named-pfa-february-player-of-the-month |access-date=13 March 2020 |website=leedsunited.com |publisher=Leeds United F.C.}}</ref>

After the English professional football season was paused in March 2020 due to the ], after the season was resumed during June, Ayling earned promotion to the ] with Leeds becoming the ] Champions for the 2019–20 season in July after the successful resumption of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 July 2020 |title=Championship: Leeds United promoted to Premier League after 16-year absence |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53449068 |access-date=9 August 2020 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>

Ayling won Leeds' goal of the season award for his volley against Huddersfield Town at the club's end of season awards on 24 July 2020.<ref name="poty2020">{{Cite web |date=27 July 2020 |title=Leeds United Player of the Year 2020 winners |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/26849/leeds-united-player-of-the-year-2020-winners |access-date=9 August 2020 |website=leedsunited.com |publisher=Leeds United F.C.}}</ref> On 7 August, he was named in '']'s'' EFL Championship team of the season for 2019–20.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 August 2020 |title=Who makes our Football League teams of the season for 2019-20? |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/aug/07/who-makes-efl-football-league-teams-of-the-season-2019-20 |access-date=9 August 2020}}</ref>

On 19 August 2020, Ayling won the EFL Championship ] Fans' Player of the Year for 2019/20 award after beating off competition from nominees including ] and ].<ref name="Leeds United">{{Cite web |date=19 August 2020 |title=Luke Ayling named PFA Player of the Year |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/26920/luke-ayling-named-pfa-player-of-the-year |access-date=28 August 2020 |website=leedsunited.com |publisher=Leeds United F.C.}}</ref> On 8 September 2020, Ayling was named in ]'s ] Team of the Season.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |date=8 September 2020 |title=PFA Player of the Year: Kevin de Bruyne and Beth England named 2020 winners |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54044861 |access-date=9 September 2020 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>

====2020–2024====
Ayling made his ] debut in the first match of the season against ] on 12 September 2020, starting and captaining Leeds in the 4–3 defeat at ] to the reigning champions,<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 September 2020 |title=Salah hat-trick sinks Leeds in thriller |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54038549 |access-date=13 September 2020 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 September 2020 |title='Leeds make magnificently chaotic return' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54134753 |access-date=14 September 2020 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> and went on to make a total of 38 league appearances for the season.

He scored his first goal for Leeds in the Premier League in the ] season opener, coming in a 5–1 defeat to rivals ] at ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58124893|title=Manchester United 5–1 Leeds United|date=14 August 2021|access-date=14 August 2021|website=BBC Sport|language=en}}</ref> This was nominated as one of the Premier League's Goals of the Month for August.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/28665/luke-and-raphinha-nominated-for-premier-league-goal-of-the-month|date=2 September 2021 |title=Luke and Raphinha Nominated for Premier League Goal of the Month!|access-date=3 September 2021 |website=Leedsunited.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/match/66356|date=2 September 2021 |title=Pick August's Budweiser Goal of the Month!|access-date=3 September 2021 |website=PremierLeague.com}}</ref> A 17 September knee injury in a 1–1 draw at ], a game in which ] also suffered an ankle injury, saw Ayling sidelined for almost three months while he had a minor operation to fix his knee.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 September 2020 |title=Leeds United's Luke Ayling set for 'clean-up' operation as Patrick Bamford's injury absence continues |last=Rayner |first=Stuart |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-uniteds-luke-ayling-set-for-clean-up-operation-as-patrick-bamfords-injury-absence-continues-3402560%3famp |access-date=13 November 2021 |website=Yorkshire Post}}</ref> In his 5 December return game, where he was in the starting lineup, Ayling provided the assist for a 94th-minute equalizer by Bamford (making his return in the same game) in a 2–2 home draw with ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 December 2021|title= Bamford returns from injury to secure late point for Leeds against Brentford|last=Jolly|first=Richard|url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/dec/05/leeds-brentford-premier-league-match-report |access-date= 5 December 2021|website=The Guardian}}</ref>

On 12 December 2021, Ayling joined a select group of just 70 players that have made over 200 appearances for the club,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lufctalk.com/stats/club-200/|title=Leeds United Club 200|date=14 August 2021|access-date=14 December 2021|website=LUFCTALK STATS & HISTORY|language=en|archive-date=24 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124121020/http://www.lufctalk.com/stats/club-200/|url-status=dead}}</ref> including then teammates ], ] and ]. On 18 March 2022, Ayling netted a stoppage time winner against ] in a thrilling comeback for ]. On 8 May 2022, during a Premier League match against Arsenal, Ayling was sent off for a two footed tackle on ]. Ayling was initially shown a yellow card, which was later upgraded to red by VAR.

Fitness and injuries limited Ayling's playing time during the pre-World Cup portion of the season. At the time of the Premier League break on 13 November 2022, he had made only seven league appearances, all bar one as a late substitute. He played the full 90 minutes in just two games in October and November in the league<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63274134|last=Dawkes|first=Phil|title=Leeds 2–3 Fulham: Cottagers beat Whites to increase pressure on Marsch|work=BBC Sport|date=23 October 2022|access-date=14 November 2022}}</ref> and the League Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63481001|last=Smith|first=Emma|title=Carabao Cup: Wolves 1–0 Leeds - Boubacar Traore fires hosts into last 16|work=BBC Sport|date=9 November 2022|access-date=14 November 2022}}</ref> On 16 February 2023, the club announced it had extended his contract by a year to the summer of 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Leeds extend Ayling contract until summer 2024 |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64662383 |access-date=16 February 2023}}</ref> On 13 May, he scored his first Premier League goal at ] in a 2–2 draw against Newcastle United, in his 250th appearance for the club in all competitions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65583938 |title=Leeds United 2–2 Newcastle United: 'Both Leeds and Newcastle left nursing regrets' |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 May 2023}}</ref> Ayling left the club at the end of the 2023–24 season having made 268 appearances and scoring 11 goals in his eight years with Leeds.<ref name="LA275">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5119g9p0vvo |title=Ayling's move to Middlesbrough made permanent |website=BBC Sport |date=27 May 2024 |access-date=4 June 2024}}</ref>

===Middlesbrough===
In January 2024, Ayling joined Championship club ] on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67933232|title=Luke Ayling: Leeds United defender joins Middlesbrough on loan|date=10 January 2024|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> He made 19 appearances and contributed eight assists during his loan spell.<ref name="LA275"/>

On 27 May 2024, it was confirmed that Ayling would sign for Middlesbrough on a permanent deal having spent the previous season on loan with them.<ref name="LA275"/> Ayling signed a two-year deal with the club.<ref name="LA275"/>

==Style of play==
Ayling plays as a ] but can also play as a ] or as a ]. Former ''Guardian'' sports writer ] lauded Ayling for his "reading of the game, communications skills, organisation skills, aerial prowess, two footedness and use of the ball" in his scouting reports column.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Claridge |first=Steve |date=28 April 2009 |title=Scouting report: Luke Ayling, Arsenal |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2009/apr/28/arsenal-luke-ayling-scouting-report-steve-claridge |access-date=28 August 2017}}</ref> Ayling was praised for his defensive work which gave Leeds United a solid start to the 2017–18 season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=D'ialbiac |first=Stephen |date=4 September 2017 |title=This stat proves just how impressive ex-Yeovil Town star Luke Ayling has been with Leeds United |work=Somersetlive |location=Somerset |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leeds-united-just-how-impressive-423388 |access-date=19 October 2017}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In August 2019, Ayling was one of the main stars of the Leeds United documentary ''Take Us Home'' on ], featuring in several episodes. The documentary was narrated by ] winning actor and Leeds fan ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 August 2019 |title=Take Us Home: What we learned from Leeds documentary |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49367913 |access-date=21 September 2019 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 August 2019 |title=Inside story of how Daniel James' transfer to Leeds collapsed before Man Utd move |work=The Mirror |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/inside-story-how-daniel-james-18948240 |access-date=21 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 August 2019 |title=Amazon documentary reveals how Manchester United player Daniel James' Leeds United transfer collapsed |work=Manchester Evening News |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/daniel-james-man-utd-leeds-16766666 |access-date=21 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 August 2019 |title=Take Us Home documentary reveals just how close Daniel James was to joining Leeds United |work=Leeds Live |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/take-us-home-amazon-documentary-16765351 |access-date=21 September 2019}}</ref>

Ayling has one daughter, Maisie, who was born in March 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Leeds United defender Luke Ayling celebrates birth of baby girl just before Fulham match|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/leeds-united-defender-luke-ayling-celebrates-birth-baby-girl-just-fulham-match-603103|access-date=11 March 2021|website=www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> On 9 June 2021, he married his wife Poppy, with singer-songwriter ] performing at the ceremony.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Grieveson-Smith|first=Jess|date=12 June 2021|title=Leeds United star's lavish wedding with private Ellie Goulding show|url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/inside-leeds-uniteds-luke-aylings-20799477|access-date=14 June 2021|website=LeedsLive|language=en}}</ref>

Ayling has the nickname "Bill", and is often referred to as such by Leeds players and fans.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jackson|first=Elliott|date=15 April 2020|title=The story of Luke Ayling's 'Bill' nickname and why it's stuck at Leeds|url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/luke-ayling-leeds-teammates-bill-18084705|access-date=6 March 2021|website=LeedsLive|language=en}}</ref> He speaks with a ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/football/60870112|title='Why am I scared?' - Leeds' Ayling on stammer|via=www.bbc.com}}</ref>

His uncle is ], and his cousin is Ray's son ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/bamford-ayling-hodgson-leeds-united-26663678|title=Bamford bench celebration, Ayling-Hodgson meeting in Leeds United moments missed|first=Beren|last=Cross|date=9 April 2023|website=Leeds Live}}</ref>


==Career statistics== ==Career statistics==
{{updated|22 September 2012.}} {{updated|match played 14 December 2024}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" style="font-size: 95%; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; clear:center; width: 60% "
|-


{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
!rowspan="2"|Season
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|League !rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season
!colspan="2" width=8%|League
!colspan="2" width=8%|] !colspan=3|League
!colspan="2" width=8%|] !colspan=2|]
!colspan="2" width=8%|] !colspan=2|]
!colspan="2" width=8%|Total !colspan=2|Other
!colspan=2|Total
|- |-
!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|- |-
|]
|rowspan="2"|]
|]<ref name="sb0910">{{soccerbase season|53032|2009|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref>
|align=center|''']'''
|] |]
|0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|'''0'''
|align="center"|'''0'''
|- |-
|align=center|] |] (loan)
|]<ref name=sb0910/>
|rowspan="4"|]
|]
|align="center"|4
|4||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||4||0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|'''4'''
|align="center"|'''0'''
|- |-
|rowspan=5|Yeovil Town
|]
|]<ref name="sb1011">{{soccerbase season|53032|2010|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref>
|rowspan="3" align=center|''']'''
|League One
|align="center"|37
|37||0||1||0||1||0||1{{efn|name=FLT|Appearance(s) in ]}}||0||40||0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|'''40'''
|align="center"|'''0'''
|- |-
|]<ref name="sb1112">{{soccerbase season|53032|2011|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref>
|]
|League One
|align="center"|44
|44||0||3||0||1||0||0||0||48||0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|'''48'''
|align="center"|'''0'''
|- |-
|]<ref name="sb1213">{{soccerbase season|53032|2012|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref>
|]
|League One
|align="center"|8
|39||0||0||0||2||0||6{{efn|Three appearances in Football League Trophy, three appearances in ]}}||0||47||0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|'''11'''
|align="center"|'''0'''
|- |-
|]<ref name="sb1314">{{soccerbase season|53032|2013|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref>
!colspan=3|'''Career totals'''
|]
!align="center"|'''93'''
|42||2||2||0||2||1||colspan=2|—||46||3
!align="center"|'''0'''
!align="center"|'''4'''
!align="center"|'''0'''
!align="center"|'''4'''
!align="center"|'''0'''
!align="center"|'''2'''
!align="center"|'''0'''
!align="center"|'''103'''
!align="center"|'''0'''
|- |-
!colspan=2|Total
!166!!2!!6!!0!!6!!1!!7!!0!!185!!3
|-
|rowspan=4|]
|]<ref name="sb1415">{{soccerbase season|53032|2014|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref>
|League One
|46||4||5||0||1||0||6{{efn|name=FLT}}||0||58||4
|-
|]<ref name="sb1516">{{soccerbase season|53032|2015|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref>
|Championship
|33||0||2||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||36||0
|-
|]<ref name=sb1617/>
|Championship
|1||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||colspan=2|—||1||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!80!!4!!7!!0!!2!!0!!6!!0!!95!!4
|-
|rowspan=9|]
|]<ref name="sb1617">{{soccerbase season|53032|2016|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref>
|Championship
|42||0||0||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||43||0
|-
|]<ref name="sb1718">{{soccerbase season|53032|2017|access-date=13 May 2018}}</ref>
|Championship
|27||0||0||0||4||0||colspan=2|—||31||0
|-
|]<ref name="sb1819">{{soccerbase season|53032|2018|access-date=8 May 2019}}</ref>
|Championship
|38||2||1||0||1||0||2{{efn|Appearances in ]}}||0||42||2
|-
|]<ref name="sb1920">{{soccerbase season|53032|2019|access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|Championship
|37||4||1||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||38||4
|-
|]<ref name="sb2021">{{soccerbase season|53032|2020|access-date=23 January 2021}}</ref>
|Premier League
|38||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||38||0
|-
|]<ref name="sb2122">{{soccerbase season|53032|2021|access-date=14 August 2021}}</ref>
|Premier League
|26||2||1||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||28||2
|-
|]<ref name="sb2223">{{soccerbase season|53032|2022|access-date=25 August 2022}}</ref>
|Premier League
|29||2||2||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||32||2
|-
|]<ref name="sb2324">{{soccerbase season|53032|2023|access-date=20 January 2024}}</ref>
|Championship
|14||1||1||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||16||1
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!251!!11!!6!!0!!9!!0!!2!!0!!268!!11
|-
|] (loan)
|]<ref name="sb2324"/>
|Championship
|19||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||19||0
|-
|rowspan=2|Middlesbrough
|]<ref name="sb2425">{{soccerbase season|53032|2024|access-date=10 August 2024}}</ref>
|Championship
|18||0||0||0||2||0||colspan=2|—||20||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!37!!0!!0!!0!!2!!0!!colspan=2|—!!39!!0
|-
!colspan=3|Career total
!534!!17!!19!!0!!19!!1!!15!!0!!587!!18
|} |}
{{notelist}}

==Honours==
'''Arsenal U18'''
*]: ]<ref name=Ayling/>
*]: ]<ref name=Ayling/>

'''Yeovil Town'''
*]: ]<ref name=2013POF/>

'''Bristol City'''
*]: ]<ref name=sb1415/><ref>{{Cite web |title=League One: 2014/15: Latest table |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1388 |access-date=28 August 2017 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm}}</ref>
*]: ]<ref name=2015FLT/>

'''Leeds United'''
*]: ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 July 2020 |title=Leeds United are champions! |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/26806/leeds-united-are-champions |access-date=18 July 2020 |website=leedsunited.com |publisher=Leeds United F.C.}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*]: 2019–20 Championship<ref name="Leeds United" />
*]: ]<ref name="auto"/>
*Leeds United Goal of the Season: 2019–20<ref name="poty2020" />


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|2}} {{reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{soccerbase|id=53032|name=Luke Ayling}}
* at the Official Yeovil Town site * at the Leeds United F.C. website
*{{Soccerbase}}
*{{Twitter|@lukeayling_8|Luke Ayling}}


{{2019–20 EFL Championship PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Yeovil Town F.C. squad}}
{{Middlesbrough F.C. squad}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ] -->
|NAME = Luke Ayling
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Luke David Ayling
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = English footballer
|DATE OF BIRTH = 25 August 1991
|PLACE OF BIRTH = ], England
|DATE OF DEATH =
|PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayling, Luke}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ayling, Luke}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 20:00, 31 December 2024

English association football player (born 1991)

Luke Ayling
Ayling in 2020
Personal information
Full name Luke David Ayling
Date of birth (1991-08-25) 25 August 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Lambeth, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team Middlesbrough
Number 12
Youth career
1999–2009 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Arsenal 0 (0)
2010 → Yeovil Town (loan) 4 (0)
2010–2014 Yeovil Town 162 (2)
2014–2016 Bristol City 80 (4)
2016–2024 Leeds United 251 (11)
2024 → Middlesbrough (loan) 19 (0)
2024– Middlesbrough 18 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:59, 26 December 2024 (UTC)

Luke David Ayling (born 25 August 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Middlesbrough. Although normally playing as a right-back, he can also function as a centre-back.

Ayling began his career at Arsenal joining the club at the age of 8. He was part of Arsenal youth team's double-winning team of the 2008–09 season, before signing his first professional contract in July 2009. Ayling was loaned out to Yeovil Town in March 2010 and played four matches. At the end of the season he agreed a permanent deal with Yeovil. After four seasons with Yeovil, Ayling signed for Bristol City where he played until 2016 when he signed a deal with Leeds United, where he was a mainstay as Leeds won the 2019–20 EFL Championship, under manager Marcelo Bielsa.

Career

Arsenal

Ayling was born in Lambeth, London. He joined Arsenal at the age of 8 despite being a Chelsea fan, progressing through the Arsenal youth teams, playing alongside Jack Wilshere and Kyle Bartley, before signing scholarship forms with the club in the summer of 2007. Ayling featured in the Reserves whilst he was still a schoolboy, and was an integral part of Arsenal youth team's Premier Academy League and FA Youth Cup double-winning team of the 2008–09 season, forming a crucial defensive partnership with Kyle Bartley. In July 2009, Ayling signed his first professional contract with Arsenal.

Ayling's only call into the first-team squad came during the 2009–10 season. Ayling was an unused substitute for a dead rubber 1–0 UEFA Champions League group stage defeat to Greek team Olympiacos on 9 December 2009. Ayling departed the club in June 2010 after his contract expired.

Yeovil Town

In March 2010, Ayling joined League One club Yeovil Town on loan for an initial month, and on 2 April 2010, made his professional debut as a second-half substitute in a 0–0 draw away at Southend United. Ayling's loan was extended until the end of the season, Ayling played four matches in total, including his first league start in the final match of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion, on 8 May 2010.

On 30 June 2010, Ayling agreed a permanent contract with Yeovil. He made his debut in a 2–1 victory over Leyton Orient. Ayling made forty appearances in his first full season with Yeovil but had discipline issues receiving thirteen yellow cards and two red cards. On 19 May 2013, Ayling played in the 2013 League One play-off final at Wembley Stadium as Yeovil beat Brentford 2–1 to earn promotion to the Championship.

After relegation from the Championship during the 2013–14 season with Yeovil Town, his contract expired at the end of the season in June 2014. After rejecting the offer of a new contract at Yeovil, he left the club.

Bristol City

Following his departure from Yeovil Town, Ayling signed for their fellow League club Bristol City on 8 July 2014 for an undisclosed compensation fee, signing a three-year deal. Ayling made his debut for Bristol City, on 9 August 2014, in their opening day victory over Sheffield United.

During the 2014–15 season, Ayling won the Football League Trophy, with Bristol City beating Walsall 2–0 at Wembley Stadium on 22 March 2015. On 18 April 2015, Ayling impressed for Bristol City playing 58 matches that season in all competitions as they were crowned League One champions following a 0–0 draw at home to Coventry City and earned promotion to the Championship. Playing 33 times either playing right-back or centre-back during the 2015–16 season in the Championship, Ayling's form at the back helped Bristol City retain their Championship status.

Leeds United

2016–2020

Ayling signed for Championship rivals Leeds United for a fee of £200,000 in August 2016 after former Arsenal teammate Kyle Bartley recommended him to new head coach Garry Monk via a text message. Following an injury to right-back Gaetano Berardi in the opening game against Queens Park Rangers, Monk decided to act and sign him on a three-year deal. The fee would later be considered one of the biggest bargains in the club's recent history, as Ayling would go on to become a seminal figure in the club's resurgence and promotion to the Premier League four years later.

Ayling's maiden season with the club would see the Yorkshire club compete as genuine promotion contenders for the first time in years. Characterised by a solid defence of Ayling, Bartley, Pontus Jansson and Gaetano Berardi, Leeds beat promotion rivals Brighton & Hove Albion 2–0 to move into fourth place with only six games remaining. The club would only win one of those remaining six games as they slid to seventh place and narrowly missed out on the play-offs. However, the campaign would prove to be a turning point for United with attendances up by almost a third, and the completion of Andrea Radrizzani's takeover offering new hope. Ayling, along with teammates from that season Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas, Kalvin Phillips and Pablo Hernandez would provide much needed stability after years of questionable recruitment.

The following 2017–18 season started brightly under new manager Thomas Christiansen with Leeds topping the table after nine games and the right–back signing a new four–year deal with the club in the autumn. They would still be in the play-off positions with Ayling an ever-present by the time they faced Nottingham Forest on New Year's Day. During the 0–0 draw, Ayling would sustain an ankle injury following a tackle by former Leeds teammate Liam Bridcutt ruling him out for the rest of the season. The Whites would only win one of their 17 games as Leeds slipped in the bottom half of the table, before Ayling returned ahead of schedule in the final game of the season against Queens Park Rangers.

The summer of 2018 would see the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa as head coach, as Leeds would again compete for promotion back to the Premier League. Ayling would achieve personal milestones during the season, with his first goal for the club coming against Rotherham United and his 100th appearance later being made at home to Swansea City. He would also begin deputising for Liam Cooper as captain. He would make 42 appearances as Leeds slowly lost their grip on automatic promotion, having led the division at Christmas, before losing to Derby County in the play-offs.

After being injured towards the very start of 2019–20 pre-season training, Ayling would miss all the pre-season games and the start of the new season after undergoing ankle surgery. On 8 August 2019, it was revealed that Leeds had rejected bids for Ayling during the 2019 transfer window in order to keep him at the club.

He signed a new four-year contract with the club in October 2019. His first goal of the 2019–20 season came on 29 December 2019, in a 5–4 victory in a dramatic win against Birmingham City, with Ayling scoring a long range volley. On 30 December 2019, Ayling was chosen as the right-back for the "Football League Team of the decade" by The Guardian.

On 8 January 2020, after impressive performances during the month of December, Ayling won the EFL Championship PFA Player of the Month award for December 2019, beating former United player Tom Lees as well as Jed Wallace, Lee Tomlin, Sam Johnstone and Andre Ayew. Ayling's goalscoring form continued into February and March, where he scored the solitary goal against Bristol City on 15 February, in a crucial home win that kept Leeds in second place behind West Bromwich Albion, bucking the trend of Leeds' three prior winless results, and his "stunning volley" in Leeds' 2–0 defeat of Huddersfield Town on 7 March that put the team back on top of the Championship. His performances in February saw him awarded the EFL Championship Player of the Month title.

After the English professional football season was paused in March 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on association football, after the season was resumed during June, Ayling earned promotion to the Premier League with Leeds becoming the EFL Championship Champions for the 2019–20 season in July after the successful resumption of the season.

Ayling won Leeds' goal of the season award for his volley against Huddersfield Town at the club's end of season awards on 24 July 2020. On 7 August, he was named in The Guardian's EFL Championship team of the season for 2019–20.

On 19 August 2020, Ayling won the EFL Championship PFA Fans' Player of the Year for 2019/20 award after beating off competition from nominees including Ollie Watkins and Aleksandar Mitrovic. On 8 September 2020, Ayling was named in Professional Footballers' Association's 2019–20 EFL Championship Team of the Season.

2020–2024

Ayling made his 2020–21 Premier League debut in the first match of the season against Liverpool on 12 September 2020, starting and captaining Leeds in the 4–3 defeat at Anfield to the reigning champions, and went on to make a total of 38 league appearances for the season.

He scored his first goal for Leeds in the Premier League in the 2021–22 season opener, coming in a 5–1 defeat to rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford. This was nominated as one of the Premier League's Goals of the Month for August. A 17 September knee injury in a 1–1 draw at Newcastle United, a game in which Patrick Bamford also suffered an ankle injury, saw Ayling sidelined for almost three months while he had a minor operation to fix his knee. In his 5 December return game, where he was in the starting lineup, Ayling provided the assist for a 94th-minute equalizer by Bamford (making his return in the same game) in a 2–2 home draw with Brentford.

On 12 December 2021, Ayling joined a select group of just 70 players that have made over 200 appearances for the club, including then teammates Stuart Dallas, Liam Cooper and Kalvin Phillips. On 18 March 2022, Ayling netted a stoppage time winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a thrilling comeback for Leeds United. On 8 May 2022, during a Premier League match against Arsenal, Ayling was sent off for a two footed tackle on Gabriel Martinelli. Ayling was initially shown a yellow card, which was later upgraded to red by VAR.

Fitness and injuries limited Ayling's playing time during the pre-World Cup portion of the season. At the time of the Premier League break on 13 November 2022, he had made only seven league appearances, all bar one as a late substitute. He played the full 90 minutes in just two games in October and November in the league and the League Cup. On 16 February 2023, the club announced it had extended his contract by a year to the summer of 2024. On 13 May, he scored his first Premier League goal at Elland Road in a 2–2 draw against Newcastle United, in his 250th appearance for the club in all competitions. Ayling left the club at the end of the 2023–24 season having made 268 appearances and scoring 11 goals in his eight years with Leeds.

Middlesbrough

In January 2024, Ayling joined Championship club Middlesbrough on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season. He made 19 appearances and contributed eight assists during his loan spell.

On 27 May 2024, it was confirmed that Ayling would sign for Middlesbrough on a permanent deal having spent the previous season on loan with them. Ayling signed a two-year deal with the club.

Style of play

Ayling plays as a right-back but can also play as a centre-back or as a defensive midfielder. Former Guardian sports writer Steve Claridge lauded Ayling for his "reading of the game, communications skills, organisation skills, aerial prowess, two footedness and use of the ball" in his scouting reports column. Ayling was praised for his defensive work which gave Leeds United a solid start to the 2017–18 season.

Personal life

In August 2019, Ayling was one of the main stars of the Leeds United documentary Take Us Home on Amazon Prime, featuring in several episodes. The documentary was narrated by Academy Award winning actor and Leeds fan Russell Crowe.

Ayling has one daughter, Maisie, who was born in March 2017. On 9 June 2021, he married his wife Poppy, with singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding performing at the ceremony.

Ayling has the nickname "Bill", and is often referred to as such by Leeds players and fans. He speaks with a stammer.

His uncle is Ray Lewington, and his cousin is Ray's son Dean Lewington.

Career statistics

As of match played 14 December 2024
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
Arsenal 2009–10 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Yeovil Town (loan) 2009–10 League One 4 0 — — — 4 0
Yeovil Town 2010–11 League One 37 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 40 0
2011–12 League One 44 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 48 0
2012–13 League One 39 0 0 0 2 0 6 0 47 0
2013–14 Championship 42 2 2 0 2 1 — 46 3
Total 166 2 6 0 6 1 7 0 185 3
Bristol City 2014–15 League One 46 4 5 0 1 0 6 0 58 4
2015–16 Championship 33 0 2 0 1 0 — 36 0
2016–17 Championship 1 0 — 0 0 — 1 0
Total 80 4 7 0 2 0 6 0 95 4
Leeds United 2016–17 Championship 42 0 0 0 1 0 — 43 0
2017–18 Championship 27 0 0 0 4 0 — 31 0
2018–19 Championship 38 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 42 2
2019–20 Championship 37 4 1 0 0 0 — 38 4
2020–21 Premier League 38 0 0 0 0 0 — 38 0
2021–22 Premier League 26 2 1 0 1 0 — 28 2
2022–23 Premier League 29 2 2 0 1 0 — 32 2
2023–24 Championship 14 1 1 0 1 0 — 16 1
Total 251 11 6 0 9 0 2 0 268 11
Middlesbrough (loan) 2023–24 Championship 19 0 — — — 19 0
Middlesbrough 2024–25 Championship 18 0 0 0 2 0 — 20 0
Total 37 0 0 0 2 0 — 39 0
Career total 534 17 19 0 19 1 15 0 587 18
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. Three appearances in Football League Trophy, three appearances in League One play-offs
  3. Appearances in Championship play-offs

Honours

Arsenal U18

Yeovil Town

Bristol City

Leeds United

Individual

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External links

2019–20 EFL Championship PFA Team of the Year
Middlesbrough F.C. – current squad
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