Loick Ayina
{{short description|Congolese footballer (born 2003)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Loick Ayina
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Loick Denis Henry Ayina{{Cite web |date=23 June 2020 |title=Club list of registered players: As at 23rd June 2020: Huddersfield Town |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/202021/efl-professional-retain-list---2019-20.pdf |access-date=5 September 2020 |page=12 }}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|4|20|df=y}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.htafc.com/academy/huddersfield-town-b-team/defender/loick-ayina/|title=Loick Ayina - Defender - B Team - Huddersfield Town|website=www.htafc.com}}
| birth_place = Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Huddersfield Town
| clubnumber = 28
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Troyes
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = AAS Sarcelles
| youthyears3 = 2019–
| youthclubs3 = Huddersfield Town
| years1 = 2020–
| clubs1 = Huddersfield Town
| caps1 = 2
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2021
| clubs2 = → Boston United (loan)
| caps2 = 4
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2023
| clubs3 = → Dundee United (loan)
| caps3 = 12
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2024
| clubs4 = → Ross County (loan)
| caps4 = 12
| goals4 = 0
| club-update = 23:28, 18 March 2024 (UTC)
}}
Loick Denis Henry Ayina (born 20 April 2003) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a defender for {{English football updater|HuddersT}} club Huddersfield Town.
Career
Born in the Republic of the Congo capital Brazzaville, he moved to Paris, France as a youngster, Diarra started his football career playing for local Parisian club Montrouge F.C. 92, before moving to Athletic Club de Boulogne-Billancourt.{{Cite web|url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2020/march/youngterriers-in-focus--loick-ayina/|title=#YOUNGTERRIERS IN FOCUS – LOICK AYINA|website=www.htafc.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/who-loick-ayina-huddersfield-town-25467952|title=Who is Loick Ayina? Huddersfield Town prospect in profile after first-team call-up|website=Huddersfield Examiner - YorkshireLive}}
Alongside fellow Frenchman Brahima Diarra, he moved to Huddersfield Town in July 2019, and they both signed professional contracts with the club a year later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2020/august/ayina--diarra-sign-first-professional-contracts/|title=AYINA & DIARRA SIGN FIRST PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS|website=www.htafc.com}}
In October 2021, Ayina joined National League North side Boston United on a one-month loan.{{Cite web |url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2021/october/loans-for-loick-and-sonny/ |title=LOANS FOR LOICK AND SONNY |publisher=htafc.com |date=30 October 2021 |accessdate=7 January 2023}}
Ayina made his senior debut for Huddersfield Town on 7 January 2023, when he played in their 3–1 FA Cup defeat against Preston North End, where he received an early yellow card, and was substituted before half-time, for fear of a second yellow card.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64167853|title=Preston North End 3–1 Huddersfield Town|date=7 January 2023|website=BBC Sport}}
On 31 January 2023, Ayina joined Dundee United on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season.{{cite news |title=LOICK AYINA JOINS UNITED ON LOAN |url=https://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/news/7698/LOICK-AYINA-JOINS-UNITED-ON-LOAN-.html |access-date=31 January 2023 |publisher=Dundee United FC |date=31 January 2023}} He was sent off on his debut, against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup.{{cite news |last1=Temple |first1=Alan |title=Dundee United verdict: Player ratings, star man and key moments as Kilmarnock dump Tangerines out of the Scottish Cup and Loick Ayina sees red |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/dundee-united/4138753/dundee-united-verdict-kilmarnock-scottish-cup-loick-ayina/ |access-date=14 February 2023 |work=The Courier |date=11 February 2023}} Ayina would return to Huddersfield at the end of the season following United's relegation to the Scottish Championship.{{Cite web |title=SQUAD UPDATE {{!}} DEPARTING PLAYERS |url=https://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/news/7867/SQUAD-UPDATE--DEPARTING-PLAYERS.html#:~:text=Ryan%20Edwards,%20Peter%20Pawlett,%20Ian,Wigan%20Athletic%20and%20Huddersfield%20Town. |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=Dundee United Football Club |language=en}}
On 26 January 2024, Ayina joined Scottish Premiership club Ross County on loan for the remainder of the season. {{cite web|url=https://www.rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk/news-items/ayina-joins-on-loan-from-huddersfield-town|title=Ayina joins on loan from Huddersfield Town|website=www.rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk|date=26 January 2024|accessdate=26 January 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Huddersfield Town A.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayina, Loick}}
Category:Footballers from Paris
Category:Footballers from Brazzaville
Category:Republic of the Congo men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players
Category:Boston United F.C. players
Category:Dundee United F.C. players
Category:Ross County F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:Republic of the Congo expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
Category:Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
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