Nathan Smith

Smith's current-season form is level with last season (Season 20→20), while his Rating held around 22. His peak season for form remains 2021/22 (Season 38).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Tranmere · 4th	2	0	0	7.45	22	20
2025/26	Tranmere · 21st	46	5	0	6.74	22	20
2024/25	Port Vale · 2nd	24	0	1	7.14	23	21
2023/24	Port Vale · 23rd	42	2	2	6.85	39	26
2022/23	Port Vale · 18th	45	3	1	6.84	45	34

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

Project playerCentral defender

N. Smith is a 30-year-old central defender at Tranmere, rated 21.6 overall by Field Insider's model. An experienced operator, he has been an ever-present this season (99.6% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.62 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Smith.

On the season, Smith graded 20 for current form (age-blind), on 8 clean sheets and 2.62 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 20 → 20). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2021/22.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 22. At 30 Smith is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 1.8 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: 2021/22Holding levelRemarkably consistentStepped up 2022/23

21.6

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

20.3

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

99.6%

Minutes

near ever-present

2.62

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Tranmere finished 21st of 24 · a lower-table side

Apps

2.62

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.62 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 8 clean sheets across 46 appearances. Doing that for a lower-table side (21st 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 5 goals and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 99.6% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.

Watch points

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

Outlook

Rated 21.6 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.62 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 %99.6%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900.109

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900.109

Defensive actions / 902.62

Player flow

Goal involvements5

Cards / 900.153

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 30, Smith sits on 1.8, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Smith's projected Rating — 21.6 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

Goals5

Passing

Assists0

Defending

Tackles33

Interceptions41

Blocks46

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards7

Red cards0

Transfer history

TranmereJul 2025 – nowFree Transfer

Port Vale(back from loan)Jun 2016 – Jul 2025

TTorquay(on loan)Jul 2015 – Jun 2016

Port Valeuntil Jul 2015

About N. Smith

Nathan James Smith is a 30-year-old centre-back who plays for Tranmere, born on April 3, 1996 in Madeley, standing 180 cm tall. He is from England. Tranmere currently sit 4th of 24 in the League Two.

This season

In the current season, N. Smith has made 2 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 180 minutes, with 1 yellow card.

N. Smith's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Tranmere face Newport County away in the League Two.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates N. Smith at 21.6 with a Season form score of 20.3. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Career

Across 12 recorded seasons, N. Smith has totalled 459 club appearances with 28 goals and 5 assists for 3 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2021/22, with 47 appearances for Port Vale.

N. Smith's career has also included time at Port Vale and TTorquay.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.