Following Sunday’s Championship play-off final where Southampton would defeat Leeds United, the second tier season has now been brought to a close and the attention for every side is now fully on building the squad over the summer months.
Teams are moving quickly to add players to their rosters so that players are used to the club’s setup. This also applies to Middlesbrough, who announced today on their official website that Luke Ayling, formerly of Leeds United, has signed a permanent contract there.
After his contract with the Yorkshire team expired this summer, Ayling signed a permanent agreement with Boro, where he had spent the second part of the season on loan. The defender has played with Leeds for the past eight years, making 268 appearances, most of them in the second division.
He wouldn’t, however, prove to be a Championship calibre defender with the Whites; rather, he would do so first with Yeovil Town and subsequently more so with Bristol City. Ayling joined the Robins in 2014 after being signed from Yeovil, and over the course of two seasons, he made just under 100 appearances while serving as a defensive staple.
He was a member of the team that won the Football League Trophy (now the EFL Trophy) and the League One title in 2014–15, which led to the team’s promotion to the Championship. Since then, the team has not dropped out of the second division. Throughout that season, the now 32-year-old was a constant on defence, and the next year in the Championship, he would step it up. Despite the fact that he had a season in the second tier under his belt with Yeovil prior, the Robins truly gave him the springboard to be recognised as a quality defender.
Ayling joined Leeds in 2016 for an alleged £725,000 fee, and the club has benefited greatly from his service ever since. This time, however, there isn’t a cost because Middlesbrough signed him on a free transfer.
Speaking to the club’s media about the acquisition of the incredibly skilled defender, Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick would say:
“That Luke is remaining with us makes us very happy. He joined the team on loan in January, but he made an immediate impression and added a lot of character and charisma. He is aware of the requirements for success in this competition.
“It’s great to have him on board permanently; the club has really grown to love him, and the supporters feel the same way.”
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