'Leaving hurt' — Former Leeds United favourite makes candid admission about exit and Middlesbrough move — Yorkshire Post 31/10/24

-

By Tom Coates

Middlesbrough defender Luke Ayling has conceded it “hurt” to end his lengthy association with Leeds United.

A firm favourite among fans at Elland Road, Ayling made 268 appearances for the club over the course of seven-and-a-half years.

He had been a regular fixture for the Whites in the Premier League but the emergence of Archie Gray pushed him down the pecking order after relegation to the Championship.

A loan move to Middlesbrough was sanctioned in January, effectively ending his Leeds career with his contract due to expire later in the year. When his Leeds deal came to an end, he joined Middlesbrough on a permanent basis.

Speaking on the ‘My Mate’s A Footballer’ podcast, Ayling said: "I found it tough to leave at the time that I did. I still felt like I could help the team and get them to where they wanted to go.

"Leaving Leeds hurt then, and to leave the boys I'd spent five, six, seven years with certainly hurt. But it all came down to myself wanting to play football.

“It was either stay there for six months, sit on the bench or even not make the squad, or get out and play some football. I've been given a home at Boro and I'm really enjoying it."

Ayling is enjoying a new lease of life at the Riverside and as one of the club’s senior statesmen, has worn the captain armband on a number of occasions.

The 33-year-old has hailed the influence of Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick in the restoration of his confidence.

He said: "Speaking to someone like Michael and him showing how much he wants me gave me the confidence I needed at the time. My confidence was a bit low - we had just finished in the Premier League and it didn't finish too well. It was a tough 18 months really.

"So to have Michael say he really wants me to come to the club and put my mark on things, it was just nice."

Popular posts from this blog

The huge initial fee Leeds are set to receive for Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham — Leeds United News 31/7/24

-
Will Butcher West Ham United are closing in on a deal to sign Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United, and Ben Jacobs has shared how much Leeds will receive for the Dutchman. The 22-year-old has been strongly linked with the Elland Road exit door all summer and was targeted as the one big sale Leeds needed to make before the Profit & Sustainability Rules deadline this month. But instead, Leeds sold Archie Gray for £40m to Tottenham. Leeds have since sold five more players in the form of Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Kris Klaesson and Charlie Cresswell – raking in around £60m in total. But more exits were always likely and Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday afternoon that West Ham had agreed personal terms with Summerville, and talks for a fee were ongoing with the Yorkshire side. Now, the story has moved on with multiple sources claiming a deal is done between Leeds and Angus Kinnear’s old club. The Dutchman is expected to sign a five-year at the London Stadium, until Jun
Read more

Leeds United board break silence after transfer window with statement on upcoming Elland Road development — YEP 2/9/24

-
By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have confirmed supporters' commemorative stones at Elland Road's Centenary Square will be replaced free of charge in a bid to improve their longevity. Beginning next month, Leeds supporters' personalised stones will be replaced with exact replicas, courtesy of a new company, to ensure of a 'much better quality' installation. The work is expected to take around two months to complete. An official club statement confirmed 'three larger stones dedicated to former managers Don Revie, Howard Wilkinson and Marcelo Bielsa' will also be installed, 'similar to those located in Bremner Square', while additional space for supporters to purchase new stones has also been factored into the project. “The club have taken on board recent feedback from supporters on the stones at Centenary Square, and we are really happy that we can now announce that all of the stones will be replaced," chief executive Angus Kinnear confirmed,
Read more

Leeds United transfer state of play as Whites knock back low bid and assert wing pair stance — YEP 3/7/24

-
By Graham Smyth Leeds United are not actively looking to cash in on Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto and believe any further outgoing transfer business will be done on their terms. The Whites, who sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday for £40m, expect that there will be continued interest in wing pair Summerville and Gnonto as the summer transfer window progresses. Summerville has been a target for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion but their interest has not yet materialised into a bid. The Albion did, however, send a £30m proposal for Georginio Rutter, which Elland Road chiefs rejected. Rutter is not expected to try and force an exit this summer and appears settled at Leeds after a far more positive second season in English football. The sale of Gray has helped put Leeds into a position where they do not need to sell star players and can dictate any moves that do happen. Club sources say they are not actively looking to sell the likes of Summerville o
Read more