Luke Ayling

Ayling's current-season form is level with last season (Season 45→45), while his Rating held around 27. His peak season for form remains 2020/21 (Season 65).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Middlesbrough · 11th	2	0	0	7.85	27	45
2025/26	Middlesbrough · 5th	46	1	5	7.26	27	45
2024/25	Middlesbrough · 10th	26	0	2	7.15	26	27
2023/24	MiddlesbroughLoan · 8th	33	1	2	7.16	33	26
2023/24	Leeds	14	1	1	7.16	—	—
2022/23	Leeds · 19th	29	2	1	6.58	44	26

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 13 earlier seasons and 1 youth-team spell in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headFull-back

L. Ayling is a 35-year-old full-back at Middlesbrough, enjoying a standout season — 1 goals and 5 assists in 46 appearances, a Season grade of 45. On long-term scout potential he's rated 27.4. A seasoned veteran, he has been an ever-present (86.2% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.81 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Ayling.

On the season, Ayling graded 45 for current form (age-blind), on 12 clean sheets and 3.81 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 45 → 45). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2020/21.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 27. At 35 Ayling is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 6.3 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 upBreakout: 2025/26

27.4

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

44.6

Seasoni

developing / rotation level

86.2%

Minutes

near ever-present

3.81

Def. actions / 90

solid defensive volume

Output in context · Middlesbrough finished 5th of 24 · an upper-table side

Apps

3.81

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.81 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 12 clean sheets across 46 appearances. Behind an upper-table side (5th 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 1 goal and 5 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 86.2% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Defensive volume. 3.81 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Age curve. At 35, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 27.4 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (3.81 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.6× and falling).

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

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %86.2%

Available fixtures49 of 49

Goals / 900.024

Assists / 900.118

Goal contribution / 900.142

Defensive actions / 903.81

Player flow

Goal involvements6

Cards / 900.213

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 (~21), then tapers with age. At 35, Ayling sits on 6.3, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Ayling's projected Rating — 27.4 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 full-backs in the Championship with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists5

Defending

Tackles92

Interceptions42

Blocks27

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards9

Red cards0

Transfer history

MiddlesbroughJun 2024 – nowFree

Middlesbrough(on loan)Jan 2024 – Jun 2024

LeedsAug 2016 – Jan 2024

Bristol CityJul 2014 – Aug 2016Free

YYeovil TownApr 2010 – Jul 2014Free

Arsenaluntil Apr 2010

About L. Ayling

Luke David Ayling is a 35-year-old full-back who plays for Middlesbrough, born on August 25, 1991 in London, standing 185 cm tall. He is from England. Middlesbrough currently sit 11th of 24 in the Championship.

This season

In the current season, L. Ayling has made 2 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 180 minutes.

L. Ayling's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Middlesbrough face West Brom at home in the Championship.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates L. Ayling at 27.4 with a Season form score of 44.6. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 8 career titles — among them the Championship and the League One. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 18 recorded seasons, L. Ayling has totalled 610 club appearances with 19 goals and 25 assists for 5 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2014/15, with 46 appearances for Bristol City.

L. Ayling's career has also included time at Leeds, Bristol City, YYeovil Town and Arsenal.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.