James Ball

Following his move to Swindon Town, Ball's current-season form is level with last season (Season 9→9), while his Rating eased 20→15. His peak season for form remains 2022/23 (Season 17).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Swindon Town · 9th	21	0	1	6.65	15	9
2024/25	AFC Wimbledon · 5th	15	1	1	6.95	20	9
2023/24	AFC Wimbledon · 10th	25	1	0	6.79	23	12
2022/23	Rochdale · 24th	32	2	1	6.72	25	17
2021/22	Rochdale · 18th	11	3	0	6.82	28	12
2021/22	Solihull Moors	16	3	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 7 earlier seasons in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthDefensive midfielder

J. Ball is a 30-year-old defensive midfielder at Swindon Town, rated 15 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 102nd of 134 on scout potential in the League Two. An experienced operator, he has been a fringe squad member this season (24.2% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.69 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Ball.

Judged on this season alone, Ball graded 9 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 5th of 7 of the 7 defensive midfielders in the League Two, on 0 goals, 1 assist and 3.686 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 9 → 9). Over the 5 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2022/23.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 15, 6th of 7 of the 7 defensive midfielders in the League Two. At 30 Ball is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 0.8 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2022/23 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2022/23Holding levelRemarkably consistent

Current potential6th of 7 defensive midfielders · League Two Current season5th of 7 defensive midfielders · League Two 5th-best defensive midfielder in the League Two 102nd in the League Two · potential 6th-highest potential defensive midfielder in the League Two

Ratingi

6th of 7 defensive midfielders

8.6

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

24.2%

Minutes

limited game time

3.69

Def. actions / 90

solid defensive volume

Output in context · Swindon Town finished 9th of 24 · a mid-table side

Apps

3.69

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.69 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 3 clean sheets across 21 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 0 goals and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Defensive volume. 3.69 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Game time. Only 24.2% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 15, Ball carries the 6th-highest potential of the defensive midfielders in the League Two of 7. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (3.69 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1× now → 0.7× projected in three years).

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

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %24.2%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900

Assists / 900.09

Goal contribution / 900.09

Defensive actions / 903.686

Player flow

Goal involvements1

Cards / 900.27

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 (~2), then tapers with age. At 30, Ball sits on 0.8, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Ball's projected Rating — 15 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 Two with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Passing

Assists1

Defending

Tackles18

Interceptions14

Blocks9

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards2

Red cards1

Transfer history

Swindon TownJul 2025 – nowFree Transfer

AFC WimbledonJul 2023 – Jul 2025Free

RRochdaleuntil Jul 2023

EEbbsfleet UnitedJul 2019 – Jul 2023Free

StevenageMay 2018 – Jul 2019

Stockport CountySept 2016 – May 2018Free

SStalybridge Celticuntil Sept 2016

HHyde United(on loan)Aug 2014 – Sept 2016

Boltonuntil Aug 2014

About J. Ball

James Cameron Ball is a 30-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for Swindon Town, born on December 1, 1995 in Bolton, standing 191 cm tall. He is from England.

This season

In the current season, J. Ball has made 21 appearances with 0 goals and 1 assist across 1,001 minutes, with 2 yellow cards.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates J. Ball at 15 with a Season form score of 8.6, ranking 102nd of 134 defensive midfielders in the League Two. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Career

Across 12 recorded seasons, J. Ball has totalled 294 club appearances with 42 goals and 3 assists for 10 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2017/18, with 42 appearances for Stockport County.

J. Ball's career has also included time at AFC Wimbledon, RRochdale, EEbbsfleet United, Stevenage, Stockport County, SStalybridge Celtic, HHyde United and Bolton.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Swindon Town finished 9th of 24 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points