Almost eight years after arriving at Leeds United, Luke Ayling’s Elland Road tenure is officially over after 268 appearances for the Whites. The right-back’s contract was due to expire next month and he has agreed terms with Middlesbrough ahead of a free transfer that will go through on July 1
The 32-year-old finished the season at Riverside Stadium, making 19 appearances after arriving on loan on January 10. Michael Carrick’s side ended the campaign strongly with only four losses in those matches Ayling played.
Ayling was at Wembley on Sunday to watch Leeds in their 1-0 defeat to Southampton. The vice-captain was seen mingling with supporters at the Boxpark venue near the ground. United’s defeat means Ayling will return to Elland Road with his new side next season.
After arriving under Garry Monk in 2016, Ayling established himself as one of Marcelo Bielsa’s key lieutenants from 2018 onwards. The former Bristol City man was a key figure on the pitch and regularly wore the captain’s armband in Liam Cooper’s absence.
Ayling’s official exit leaves him tied at 31st with Mervyn Day in the club’s all-time appearance chart, five short of Nigel Martyn and 16 short of Cooper, who may also leave Elland Road this summer. Stuart Dallas’s retirement means Daniel Farke could see all three of his longest-serving players move on in this close season.
