Rafferty's current-season form is level with last season (Season 28→28), while his Rating held around 22. His peak season for form remains 2023/24 (Season 41).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Rotherham · 17th	1	0	0	6.9	22	28
2025/26	Rotherham · 23rd	42	3	2	6.72	22	28
2024/25	Rotherham · 13th	39	1	1	6.77	29	22
2023/24	Portsmouth · 1st	41	0	4	6.94	36	41
2022/23	Portsmouth · 8th	24	0	3	7.1	34	25

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 10 earlier seasons in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headCentral defender

J. Rafferty is a 32-year-old central defender at Rotherham, enjoying a standout season — 3 goals and 2 assists in 42 appearances, a Season grade of 28. On long-term scout potential he's rated 21.5. A seasoned veteran, he has been an ever-present (80.1% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.34 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Rafferty.

On the season, Rafferty graded 28 for current form (age-blind), on 8 clean sheets and 3.339 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 28 → 28). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 22. At 32 Rafferty is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 3.2 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2023/24Trending downBreakout: 2023/24

21.5

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

27.5

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

80.1%

Minutes

near ever-present

3.34

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Rotherham finished 23rd of 24 · a relegation-threatened side

Apps

3.34

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.34 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 8 clean sheets across 42 appearances. Doing that for a relegation-threatened side (23rd of 24) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 3 goals and 2 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 80.1% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.

Watch points

Age curve. At 32, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 21.5 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3.34 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.8× and falling).

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

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %80.1%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900.081

Assists / 900.054

Goal contribution / 900.136

Defensive actions / 903.339

Player flow

Goal involvements5

Cards / 900.19

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 (~4), then tapers with age. At 32, Rafferty sits on 3.2, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Rafferty's projected Rating — 21.5 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 centre-backs in the League Two with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals3

Passing

Assists2

Defending

Tackles61

Interceptions45

Blocks17

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards7

Red cards0

Transfer history

RotherhamJun 2024 – nowFree

PortsmouthJul 2022 – Jun 2024Free

PrestonJan 2019 – Jul 2022

RRochdaleuntil Jan 2019

About J. Rafferty

Joe Rafferty is a 32-year-old centre-back who plays for Rotherham, born on October 6, 1993 in Liverpool, standing 180 cm tall. He is from Republic of Ireland. Rotherham currently sit 17th of 24 in the League Two.

This season

In the current season, J. Rafferty has made 1 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 23 minutes.

J. Rafferty's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Rotherham face Chesterfield at home in the League Two.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates J. Rafferty at 21.5 with a Season form score of 27.5. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 2 career titles — among them the League One. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 15 recorded seasons, J. Rafferty has totalled 423 club appearances with 8 goals and 12 assists for 4 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2025/26, with 42 appearances for Rotherham.

J. Rafferty's career has also included time at Portsmouth, Preston and RRochdale.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.