Daniel Ayala

Club career

Liverpool

Born in El Saucejo, Seville, Andalusia, Ayala agreed a move to Liverpool in September 2007 after rejecting a professional contract with Sevilla, where he came through the youth team. Liverpool paid a compensation fee to Sevilla and Ayala was offered a three-year contract. In the 2007–08 season he featured predominantly in the Under-18 team, whilst in the 2008–09 season he split his time between the Under-18 and reserve teams. He played through injury in the FA Youth Cup 2008–09 Final defeat to Arsenal.

Ayala made his senior debut on 16 August 2009 in a Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur, coming on as a substitute for the injured Martin Škrtel and made his first start against Stoke City at Anfield three days later. On Halloween, he came on as a substitute in Liverpool's 3–1 defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage, after Jamie Carragher and Philipp Degen were sent off. He also played in Liverpool's 4–0 win over Burnley, subsequently relegating them to the Championship, and Liverpool's 2–0 defeat against Chelsea. On 12 November, it was announced that the player had signed an extended contract keeping him at Liverpool until the summer of 2012.

In September 2010, Ayala joined Championship side Hull City on loan. He started the same day in Hull City's away match at Cardiff City which they lost 2–0. In his second match for the club against Derby County he scored his first goal in a competitive match. On 20 September, Liverpool announced that his loan period had been extended until 1 January. Ayala played 12 times for Hull in all competitions, scoring once. On 27 December, he returned to Liverpool due to an injury crisis.

On 11 February 2011, Derby County finally signed Ayala on a loan deal until the end of the season, after the move was delayed due to the players hamstring injury which he picked up while playing for Hull City. He went on to play 17 times for Derby, making 16 consecutive starts.

Norwich City

On 13 August 2011, Ayala signed for Norwich City for a reported fee of £800,000. The deal officially went through on 16 August 2011. Ayala was handed the number 26 shirt, vacated by Steven Smith and was named in the squad for the Premier League fixture against Stoke City at Carrow Road on 21 August 2011. This was due to Zak Whitbread being rated as doubtful for the fixture after picking up a knee knock against Wigan. He made his debut for Norwich as a second-half substitute for Anthony Pilkington following Leon Barnett's sending off against Stoke.

Ayala suffered a knee injury in the League Cup defeat to Milton Keynes Dons ruling him out for two months. He made his Norwich comeback in the 1–1 draw against Fulham, starting with Zak Whitbread and playing 90 minutes. Ayala was ruled out for a few weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in a 2–0 win over Bolton.

On 7 August 2012, Ayala secured a season-long loan deal with Nottingham Forest. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 home win against Cardiff City.

Middlesbrough

On 23 October 2013, Ayala joined Championship club Middlesbrough on a three-month emergency loan spell. He made his debut for Middlesbrough two days later, when his new side crushed Doncaster Rovers 4–0, taking the honour of scoring on his debut. He bagged in his second goal for the club in his third appearance in their 2–2 draw with Watford, where he scored the equaliser in the final minute of added time.

On 24 January 2014, Ayala joined Middlesbrough on a permanent forty-two month contract. Ayala thus became recently appointed manager Aitor Karanka's first permanent signing for Middlesbrough, with the fee reported to be in the region of £350,000.

He was released upon the expiration of his contract on 30 June 2020.

Blackburn Rovers

On 15 September 2020, Ayala signed for Blackburn Rovers on a 3-year deal. Ayala made his debut for Blackburn in their 0–0 draw with Cardiff on 3 October. Ayala scored his first goal for Blackburn in the club's 2–1 win against Nottingham Forest on 18 August 2021.

Rotherham United

On 27 October 2023, Ayala signed for EFL Championship side Rotherham United on a short-term deal. On 7 March 2024, Ayala was released by mutual consent.

Potters Bar Town

On 22 October 2024, Ayala played for Potters Bar Town in an Alan Turvey Trophy loss against Cheshunt.

Career statistics

References

1. (1 September 2016). "Squads for 2016/17 Premier League confirmed". Premier League.
2. "Sanchez Ayala official profile". Liverpoolfc.tv.
3. "The website for the English football association, the Emirates FA Cup and the England football team". The Football Association.
4. (16 August 2009). "Tottenham 2–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport.
5. (19 August 2009). "Liverpool 4-0 Stoke". BBC Sport.
6. (12 November 2009). "Ayala signs extended Liverpool deal". Anfield Online.
7. (11 September 2010). "Defender seals loan deal". Liverpoolfc.tv.
8. (11 September 2010). "Cardiff 2–0 Hull". BBC Sport.
9. (14 September 2010). "Hull 2–0 Derby". BBC Sport.
10. (20 September 2010). "Defender extends loan". liverpoolfc.tv.
11. (13 August 2011). "Norwich sign Liverpool defender Daniel Ayala". BBC Sport.
12. "Nott'm Forest 3-1 Cardiff". BBC Sport.
13. (23 October 2013). "Middlesbrough: Norwich City's Daniel Ayala joins on loan". BBC Sport.
14. (25 October 2013). "Middlesbrough 4–0 Doncaster". BBC Sport.
15. (9 November 2013). "Middlesbrough 2–2 Watford". BBC Sport.
16. (24 January 2014). "Transfer window: Norwich's Daniel Ayala joins Middlesbrough". BBC Sport.
17. "BBC article about his release from Middlesbrough FC". BBC Sport.
18. (15 September 2020). "Ayala arrives!". [[Blackburn Rovers F.C..
19. (3 October 2020). "Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Cardiff City: Top scorers Blackburn have strong form checked". [[BBC Sport]].
20. (18 August 2021). "Nottingham Forest 1-2 Blackburn Rovers: Darragh Lenihan goal leaves Forest pointless". [[BBC Sport]].
21. (27 October 2023). "Signing – Millers Granted Permission to Add Ayala to Squad List". Rotherham FC.
22. (7 March 2024). "Daniel Ayala: Rotherham United release veteran defender". BBC Sport.
23. (27 October 2024). "Ex-Premier League star raises the Bar". Non-League Paper.
24. "Daniel Sanchez Ayala".
25. {{soccerbase season. 52027. 2009
26. {{soccerbase season. 52027. 2022
27. {{soccerbase season. 52027. 2011
28. {{soccerbase season. 52027. 2012
29. {{soccerbase season. 52027. 2013
30. {{Soccerbase season. 52027. 2013
31. {{Soccerbase season. 52027. 2014
32. {{Soccerbase season. 52027. 2015
33. {{Soccerbase season. 52027. 2016
34. {{Soccerbase season. 52027. 2017
35. {{Soccerbase season. 52027. 2018
36. {{Soccerbase season. 52027. 2019
37. {{Soccerbase season. 52027. 2020
38. {{Soccerbase season. 52027. 2021
39. {{soccerbase season. 52027. 2023
40. (17 April 2016). "The Football League Awards 2016: Winners". [[English Football League.
41. (21 April 2016). "PFA awards: Leicester and Spurs dominate Premier League team". BBC Sport.
42. (20 May 2016). "Daniel Ayala wins PFA Fans' Player of the Season in the Championship". Sky Sports.