Daniel Ayala
{{short description|Spanish footballer (born 1990)}}
{{for-multi|the Mexican violinist, conductor and composer|Daniel Ayala Pérez|the Chilean handball player|Daniel Ayala (handballer)}}
{{family name hatnote|Sánchez|Ayala|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Daniel Ayala
| image = DanielAyala.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Ayala training with Liverpool in 2011
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|11|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = El Saucejo, Spain
| position = Centre-back
| youthyears1 = 2000–2007
| youthclubs1 = Sevilla
| youthyears2 = 2007–2009
| youthclubs2 = Liverpool
| years1 = 2009–2011
| clubs1 = Liverpool
| caps1 = 5
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2010
| clubs2 = → Hull City (loan)
| caps2 = 12
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2011
| clubs3 = → Derby County (loan)
| caps3 = 17
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2011–2014
| clubs4 = Norwich City
| caps4 = 7
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2012–2013
| clubs5 = → Nottingham Forest (loan)
| caps5 = 12
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2013–2014
| clubs6 = → Middlesbrough (loan)
| caps6 = 13
| goals6 = 3
| years7 = 2014–2020
| clubs7 = Middlesbrough
| caps7 = 176
| goals7 = 18
| years8 = 2020–2023
| clubs8 = Blackburn Rovers
| caps8 = 56
| goals8 = 3
| years9 = 2023–2024
| clubs9 = Rotherham United
| caps9 = 7
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2024
| clubs10 = Potters Bar Town
| caps10 = 0
| goals10 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2011
| nationalteam1 = Spain U21
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 17:03, 7 March 2024 (UTC)
| ntupdate =
}}
Daniel Sánchez Ayala (born 7 November 1990) is a Spanish professional footballer who last played as a centre-back for Potters Bar Town. His first club was Premier League club Liverpool. He joined Norwich City in 2011, and joined Middlesbrough on loan in October 2013, before joining the club on a permanent deal in January 2014. He joined Blackburn Rovers soon after a few years.
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/404?404;http://www.thefa.com:80/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png|title=The website for the English football association, the Emirates FA Cup and the England football team|publisher=The Football Association|access-date=15 September 2020}}
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{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8198253.stm|title=Tottenham 2–1 Liverpool|date=16 August 2009|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 August 2009|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122135551/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8198253.stm|url-status=live}} and made his first start against Stoke City at Anfield three days later.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8202421.stm|title=Liverpool 4-0 Stoke|date=19 August 2009|access-date=15 September 2020|work=BBC Sport|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122030829/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8202421.stm|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.anfield-online.co.uk/lfc-news/2009/ayala-signs-extended-deal/|title=Ayala signs extended Liverpool deal|date=12 November 2009|work=Anfield Online|access-date=12 November 2009|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625185749/https://www.anfield-online.co.uk/lfc-news/2009/ayala-signs-extended-deal/|url-status=live}}
In September 2010, Ayala joined Championship side Hull City on loan.{{cite web|title=Defender seals loan deal |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/defender-seals-loan-deal |date=11 September 2010 |work=Liverpoolfc.tv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914122959/http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/defender-seals-loan-deal |archive-date=14 September 2010 }} He started the same day in Hull City's away match at Cardiff City which they lost 2–0.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8977674.stm|title=Cardiff 2–0 Hull|date=11 September 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=11 September 2010|archive-date=9 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209063527/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8977674.stm|url-status=live}} In his second match for the club against Derby County he scored his first goal in a competitive match.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8989436.stm|title=Hull 2–0 Derby|date=14 September 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=14 September 2010|archive-date=16 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916070616/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8989436.stm|url-status=live}} On 20 September, Liverpool announced that his loan period had been extended until 1 January.{{cite web|title=Defender extends loan |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/defender-extends-loan-2 |date=20 September 2010 |work=liverpoolfc.tv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923071927/http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/defender-extends-loan-2 |archive-date=23 September 2010 }} 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.{{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14503592.stm| title = Norwich sign Liverpool defender Daniel Ayala| date = 13 August 2011| access-date = 13 August 2011| work = BBC Sport| archive-date = 19 December 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191219051326/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14503592.stm| url-status = live}} 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.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
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.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19939479|title=Nott'm Forest 3-1 Cardiff|access-date=15 September 2020|work=BBC Sport|archive-date=6 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906074332/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19939479|url-status=live}}
=Middlesbrough=
On 23 October 2013, Ayala joined Championship club Middlesbrough on a three-month emergency loan spell.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24637410|title=Middlesbrough: Norwich City's Daniel Ayala joins on loan|date=23 October 2013|work=BBC Sport|access-date=23 October 2013|archive-date=23 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023132914/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24637410|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24576598|title=Middlesbrough 4–0 Doncaster|date=25 October 2013|work=BBC Sport|access-date=25 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026092755/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24576598|archive-date=26 October 2013|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24782886|title=Middlesbrough 2–2 Watford|date=9 November 2013|work=BBC Sport|access-date=9 November 2013}}
On 24 January 2014, Ayala joined Middlesbrough on a permanent forty-two month contract.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25813628|title=Transfer window: Norwich's Daniel Ayala joins Middlesbrough|date=24 January 2014|work=BBC Sport|access-date=26 January 2014|archive-date=27 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127024543/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25813628|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite news|title=BBC article about his release from Middlesbrough FC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53211732|work=BBC Sport|archive-date=6 July 2020|access-date=3 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706011806/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53211732|url-status=live}}
=Blackburn Rovers=
On 15 September 2020, Ayala signed for Blackburn Rovers on a 3-year deal.{{Cite news|date=15 September 2020|title=Ayala arrives!|work=Rovers.co.uk|url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2020/september/ayala-arrives/|access-date=18 December 2021|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404175109/https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2020/september/ayala-arrives/|url-status=live}} Ayala made his debut for Blackburn in their 0–0 draw with Cardiff on 3 October.{{Cite news|date=3 October 2020|title=Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Cardiff City: Top scorers Blackburn have strong form checked|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54305601|access-date=18 December 2021|archive-date=18 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218222505/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54305601|url-status=live}} Ayala scored his first goal for Blackburn in the club's 2–1 win against Nottingham Forest on 18 August 2021.{{Cite news|date=18 August 2021|title=Nottingham Forest 1-2 Blackburn Rovers: Darragh Lenihan goal leaves Forest pointless|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58168105|access-date=18 December 2021|archive-date=26 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026165323/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58168105|url-status=live}}
=Rotherham United=
On 27 October 2023, Ayala signed for EFL Championship side Rotherham United on a short-term deal.{{cite web |url=https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2023/october/signing--millers-granted-permission-to-add-ayala-to-squad-list/ |title=Signing – Millers Granted Permission to Add Ayala to Squad List |publisher=Rotherham FC |date=27 October 2023 |access-date=27 October 2023 |archive-date=27 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027212015/https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2023/october/signing--millers-granted-permission-to-add-ayala-to-squad-list/ |url-status=live }} On 7 March 2024, Ayala was released by mutual consent.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68489773|title=Daniel Ayala: Rotherham United release veteran defender|date=7 March 2024|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=8 March 2024|archive-date=8 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308002156/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68489773|url-status=live}}
=Potters Bar Town=
On 22 October 2024, Ayala played for Potters Bar Town in an Alan Turvey Trophy loss against Cheshunt.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/non-league-paper/495416/ex-premier-star-ayala-raises-bar/|title=Ex-Premier League star raises the Bar|date=27 October 2024|work=Non-League Paper|accessdate=27 November 2024|archive-date=3 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203204649/https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/non-league-paper/495416/ex-premier-star-ayala-raises-bar/|url-status=live}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 16 December 2023}}{{cite web|title=Daniel Sanchez Ayala|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=52027|website=Soccerbase|access-date=17 December 2023|archive-date=6 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806011808/https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=52027|url-status=live}}
Honours
Middlesbrough
- Football League Championship runner-up: 2015–16
Individual
- The Football League Team of the Season: 2015–16{{Cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2016/april/the-football-league-awards-2016-winners/ |title=The Football League Awards 2016: Winners |publisher=EFL.com |date=17 April 2016 |access-date=29 April 2022 |archive-date=29 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529152833/https://www.efl.com/news/2016/april/the-football-league-awards-2016-winners/ |url-status=live }}
- PFA Team of the Year: 2015–16 Championship{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36106596 |title=PFA awards: Leicester and Spurs dominate Premier League team |work=BBC Sport |date=21 April 2016 |access-date=7 May 2018 |archive-date=29 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629035855/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36106596 |url-status=live }}
- PFA Fans' Player of the Year: 2015–16 Championship{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12040/10287826/daniel-ayala-wins-pfa-fans-player-of-the-season-in-the-championship|title=Daniel Ayala wins PFA Fans' Player of the Season in the Championship|date=20 May 2016|access-date=20 May 2016|publisher=Sky Sports|archive-date=28 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628153215/http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12040/10287826/daniel-ayala-wins-pfa-fans-player-of-the-season-in-the-championship|url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Daniel Ayala}}
- {{UEFA player}}
{{2015–16 The Football League Team of the Season}}
{{2015–16 Football League Championship PFA Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayala, Daniel}}
Category:People from Sierra Sur (Seville)
Category:Footballers from the Province of Seville
Category:Spanish men's footballers
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:Liverpool F.C. players
Category:Hull City A.F.C. players
Category:Norwich City F.C. players
Category:Derby County F.C. players
Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. players
Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players
Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players
Category:Rotherham United F.C. players
Category:Potters Bar Town F.C. players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Spain men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Spanish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England