David Turnbull

Turnbull's current-season form is level with last season (Season 23→23), while his Rating held around 38. His peak season for form remains 2020/21 (Season 34).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Cardiff · 12th	1	0	0	6.9	38	23
2025/26	Cardiff · 2nd	41	2	4	6.79	38	23
2024/25	Cardiff · 24th	24	1	0	6.93	54	9
2023/24	Cardiff · 12th	17	0	1	6.68	57	7
2023/24	Celtic · 1st	22	7	0	7.23	45	17
2022/23	Celtic · 1st	28	4	6	7.04	48	21

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 5 earlier seasons and 3 youth-team spells in the full career.

Scotland · international

Side	Apps	G
Scotland	5	0
Scotland U21	3	1

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthDefensive midfielder

D. Turnbull is a 27-year-old defensive midfielder at Cardiff, rated 38.2 overall by Field Insider's model. In his prime years, he has been a rotation option this season (44.8% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.67 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Turnbull.

On the season, Turnbull graded 23 for current form (age-blind), on 2 goals, 4 assists and 2.667 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 23 → 23). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2020/21.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 38. At 27 Turnbull is in his prime years, and a market index of 8.7 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2020/21 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2020/21Trending up

38.2

Ratingi

developing / rotation level

23.3

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

44.8%

Minutes

rotation minutes

2.67

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Cardiff finished 2nd of 24 · a title-challenging side

Apps

2.67

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.67 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 8 clean sheets across 41 appearances. Behind a title-challenging side (2nd of 24) the side controls more games, so the defensive load is lighter — the value sits as much in composure and ball progression as in raw volume. Going forward he chipped in 2 goals and 4 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.29 goal involvements per 90, useful for a defensive midfielder.

Watch points

Game time. Only 44.8% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 38.2 overall — developing / rotation level. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.67 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90), with a bit more on the ball than most in the role. In the prime window — at or near peak market value, so the next two seasons are the ones to cash in or build around.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %44.8%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900.097

Assists / 900.194

Goal contribution / 900.291

Defensive actions / 902.667

Player flow

Goal involvements6

Cards / 900.194

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~9), then tapers with age. At 27, Turnbull sits on 8.7, at or near its peak. The blue line is Turnbull's projected Rating — 38.2 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among defensive midfielders in the League One with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals2

Passing

Assists4

Defending

Tackles32

Interceptions18

Blocks5

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards4

Red cards0

Transfer history

€2.3M total transfer fees · 2 moves

CardiffFeb 2024 – now€ 2.3M

CelticAug 2020 – Feb 2024

Motherwelluntil Aug 2020

About D. Turnbull

David Turnbull is a 27-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for Cardiff, born on July 10, 1999 in Carluke, standing 185 cm tall. He is from Scotland.

This season

In the current season, D. Turnbull has made 1 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 31 minutes.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates D. Turnbull at 38.2 with a Season form score of 23.3. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 9 career titles — among them the League Cup and the Scottish Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 11 recorded seasons, D. Turnbull has totalled 236 club appearances with 46 goals and 26 assists for 4 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2025/26, with 41 appearances for Cardiff.

D. Turnbull's career has also included time at Celtic and Motherwell.

On the international stage, D. Turnbull has represented Scotland and Scotland U21 — 8 caps and 1 goal in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.