Matthew Butcher

Butcher's current-season form is level with last season (Season 25→25), while his Rating held around 22. His peak season for form remains 2021/22 (Season 30).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Salford City · 22nd	1	0	0	6.6	22	25
2025/26	Salford City · 4th	41	5	1	6.73	22	25
2024/25	Bristol RoversLoan · 22nd	31	0	6	6.74	34	22
2024/25	Wycombe	4	0	0	6.8	—	—
2023/24	Wycombe · 10th	18	3	0	6.83	39	13
2023/24	Plymouth · 21st	15	0	0	6.5	46	2
2022/23	Plymouth · 1st	40	3	1	6.71	46	25

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 6 earlier seasons in the full career.

Scout report

Project playerDefensive midfielder

M. Butcher is a 29-year-old defensive midfielder at Salford City, enjoying a standout season — 5 goals and 1 assists in 41 appearances, a Season grade of 25. On long-term scout potential he's rated 22.5. An experienced operator, he has been a regular starter (60.9% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.24 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Butcher.

On the season, Butcher graded 25 for current form (age-blind), on 5 goals, 1 assist and 2.244 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 25 → 25). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2021/22.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 23. At 29 Butcher is in his prime years, and a market index of 2.2 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2021/22 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2021/22Trending upRemarkably consistent5 clubs

22.5

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

25.1

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

60.9%

Minutes

a regular starter

2.24

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Salford City finished 4th of 24 · an upper-table side

Apps

2.24

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.24 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 9 clean sheets across 41 appearances. Behind an upper-table side (4th 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 5 goals and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 60.9% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.2 goal involvements per 90, useful for a defensive midfielder.

Watch points

Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 22.5 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.24 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1.1× now → 0.8× projected in three years).

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

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %60.9%

Available fixtures49 of 49

Goals / 900.167

Assists / 900.033

Goal contribution / 900.201

Defensive actions / 902.244

Player flow

Goal involvements6

Cards / 900.134

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 29, Butcher sits on 2.2, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Butcher's projected Rating — 22.5 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 defensive midfielders in the League Two with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals5

Passing

Assists1

Defending

Tackles37

Interceptions23

Blocks7

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards4

Red cards0

Transfer history

Salford CityAug 2025 – now

Wycombe(back from loan)Jul 2025 – Aug 2025

Bristol Rovers(on loan)Jan 2025 – Jul 2025

WycombeJan 2024 – Jan 2025Free

PlymouthJul 2022 – Jan 2024Free

Accrington STAug 2020 – Jul 2022

SST Johnstone(on loan)Jan 2020 – Aug 2020

Bournemouth(back from loan)Jul 2017 – Jan 2020

YYeovil Town(on loan)until Jul 2017

WWoking(on loan)Feb 2016 – Jul 2017

Bournemouth(back from loan)Jul 2015 – Feb 2016

GGosport Borough(on loan)Feb 2015 – Jul 2015

Bournemouthuntil Feb 2015

About M. Butcher

Matthew David Butcher is a 29-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for Salford City, born on May 14, 1997 in Reading, standing 188 cm tall. He is from England. Salford City currently sit 22nd of 24 in the League Two.

This season

In the current season, M. Butcher has made 1 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 61 minutes.

M. Butcher's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Salford City face Shrewsbury away in the League Two.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates M. Butcher at 22.5 with a Season form score of 25.1. 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 11 recorded seasons, M. Butcher has totalled 277 club appearances with 21 goals and 14 assists for 10 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2020/21, with 42 appearances for Accrington ST.

M. Butcher's career has also included time at Wycombe, Bristol Rovers, Plymouth, Accrington ST, SST Johnstone, Bournemouth, YYeovil Town, WWoking and GGosport Borough.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.