Luke Ayling joins Leeds United from Bristol City – Twitter Reacts
Former Arsenal academy product Luke Ayling has put pen to paper on a three year contract at Elland Road, signing from Championship rivals Bristol City. In Ayling, Leeds United have acquired a 24-year-old right-back who is also capable of playing central defender or even as a deep lying midfielder if necessary.
The defender joined Bristol City in the summer of 2014 from Yeovil Town for an undisclosed compensation fee, as his deal at Huish Park had expired. Before pulling on the white and green hoops of the Glovers, Ayling came up through the Arsenal academy youth system, winning an FA Youth Cup in the same team as Jack Wilshere.
He was the only outfield ever-present player in Bristol City’s double-winning 2014/15 campaign, operating as a right-sided centre-half in a 3-5-2 formation – playing 95 times and scoring four goals for the Robins across two seasons.
Despite a relatively well publicised off-field misdemeanour, Ayling was popular amongst the Ashton Gate faithful and will likely be missed. He has experience of playing at this level with both Yeovil and Bristol City, and will add to Garry Monk’s new-look defense, in the Englishman’s first full season in charge in Yorkshire.
Comfortable on the ball (as you’d expect from an Arsenal FA Youth Cup winner), Ayling has silky skills for a defender, and his slaloming runs can turn defence into attack rapidly. Position-wise he has a tendency to get caught out, especially when playing right back, but at just 24 he has time to mature into a very dependable and classy Championship defender.
With nearly 300 first team appearances across League One and the Championship, it is fair to say Ayling will add some experience to Leeds United, but also will hope to continue progressing and learning as a footballer.
Here is how Twitter reacted to his move north:
Featured image: All rights reserved by Nizaam Jones
Cool something getting sorted in back 4, lets hope we stop giving soft goals away ! welcome to Leeds United
— Eddie brown (@Rochdalebuddha) August 11, 2016
@lukeayling_8 welcome to our great club , we all love Leeds we all love Leeds…..
— M1LES (@milo1403) August 11, 2016
Great bit of business by @GarryMonk absolutely buzzing with the signing of @lukeayling_8, welcome to Leeds United!!! #MOT
— Jason Stevenson (@JasonStevo11) August 11, 2016
Leeds needed more options in defence & they've got a solid one in Luke Ayling. Can play RB & CB, think he's a good signing for Monk #lufc
— The Football Hub UK (@FootballHub_UK) August 11, 2016
Thank you for the fantastic memories @lukeayling_8 gutted you have left us, all the best for the season!! Top Guy 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/kxpxI0Ojra
— Louis Alexander (@Louis_A_Johnson) August 11, 2016
So Luke Ayling to Leeds. Another one I thought #sufc should have bought years ago. Might have saved us a lot of money down the line
— Andy Pack (@AndyPackMedia) August 11, 2016
@lukeayling_8 welcome to the club. Looking forward to going up this season
— MikeyDee (@mikeydee2107) August 11, 2016
Very sad to see you leave Luke all the very best in your future career
— Jon Fussell (@jon_fussell) August 11, 2016
good luck we shall miss you
— aytch (@aytchinspain) August 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/AFlint4/status/763769817417523200
https://twitter.com/LewisRamsey/status/763775545410748416
https://twitter.com/Scully86/status/763778143593369600
Only way is UP from here. New club, new season, new era 🙌
— MikeyDee (@mikeydee2107) August 11, 2016
@lukeayling_8 sad to see you go Luke. Thank you for the best year of being a city fan #champions #doublewinners pic.twitter.com/KxDdfRbE5S
— Jack 🏴 (@jackhennessy19) August 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/Seancain12/status/763774745615663104
