Matthew Smith

Smith's current-season form is up 44% on last season (Season 18→26), while his Rating held around 43. That makes this his strongest season for form to date.

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Wigan · 16th	37	1	2	6.73	43	26
2024/25	Wigan · 15th	19	1	3	6.95	43	18
2023/24	Wigan · 12th	28	1	3	6.84	48	21
2021/22	DoncasterLoan · 22nd	43	0	1	6.72	49	25
2020/21	CharltonLoan	8	0	0	6.51	—	—
2020/21	Swindon TownLoan · 23rd	32	2	0	6.51	45	12

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

Scout report

Project playerCentral midfielder

M. Smith is a 25-year-old central midfielder at Wigan, rated 43.4 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 31st of 107 on scout potential in the League One. In his prime years, he has been a regular starter this season (64.4% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.31 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Smith.

Judged on this season alone, Smith graded 26 — a solid campaign that ranks top 38% of the 24 central midfielders in the League One, on 1 goal, 2 assists and 3.307 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 18 → 26). Across the 5 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 43, top 34% of the 24 central midfielders in the League One. At 25 Smith is in his prime years, and a market index of 9.7 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Smith is operating at his career peak — the 2025/26 level is the level.

Peak: 2025/26Holding levelRemarkably consistent

Current potentialTop 34% central midfielders · League One Current seasonTop 38% central midfielders · League One 9th-best central midfielder in the League One 31st in the League One · potential 8th-highest potential central midfielder in the League One

43.4

Ratingi

8th of 24 central midfielders

25.5

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

64.4%

Minutes

a regular starter

3.31

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Wigan finished 16th of 24 · a mid-table side

Apps

3.31

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.31 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 8 clean sheets across 37 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 2 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 64.4% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.

Watch points

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

Outlook

With a Rating of 43.4, Smith carries the 8th-highest potential of the central midfielders in the League One (top 34%). Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3.31 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead.

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

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %64.4%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900.034

Assists / 900.067

Goal contribution / 900.101

Defensive actions / 903.307

Player flow

Goal involvements3

Cards / 900.236

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 (~10), then tapers with age. At 25, Smith sits on 9.7, at or near its peak. The blue line is Smith's projected Rating — 43.4 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 central midfielders in the League One with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists2

Defending

Tackles56

Interceptions30

Blocks12

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards6

Red cards1

Transfer history

WiganJul 2023 – nowFree

Arsenal(back from loan)Jul 2022 – Jul 2023

Doncaster(on loan)Jul 2021 – Jul 2022

Arsenaluntil Jul 2021

Charlton(on loan)Feb 2021 – Jul 2021

Swindon Town(on loan)Aug 2020 – Feb 2021

Arsenaluntil Aug 2020

About M. Smith

Matthew Gerrard Smith is a 25-year-old central midfielder who plays for Wigan, born on October 5, 2000 in Harlow, standing 176 cm tall. He is from England. Wigan currently sit 24th of 24 in the League One.

This season

In the current season, M. Smith has made 37 appearances with 1 goal and 2 assists across 2,667 minutes, with 6 yellow cards.

M. Smith's next match is on August 30, 2026, when Wigan face AFC Wimbledon away in the League One.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates M. Smith at 43.4 with a Season form score of 25.5, ranking 31st of 107 central midfielders in the League One. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 4 career titles — among them the FA Cup and the Premier League 2. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 9 recorded seasons, M. Smith has totalled 249 club appearances with 15 goals and 9 assists for 7 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2021/22, with 43 appearances for Doncaster.

M. Smith's career has also included time at Arsenal, Doncaster, Charlton and Swindon Town.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Wigan finished 16th of 24 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points