Phil Hay: Leeds United plan send-off for Luke Ayling as January transfer announcement made
Leeds United have planned a send-off for Luke Ayling after it was announced that he had joined Middlesbrough on loan for the second half of the season, according to Phil Hay.
The Athletic journalist reported on Wednesday (10 January) that the Whites have invited the 32-year-old back to Elland Road for their clash with Preston on 21 January, so that supporters can give him a “proper send-off” after eight years with Leeds.
Ayling’s contract with Daniel Farke’s side runs until the end of the season, the same time his loan spell at the Riverside ends and the announcement of an Elland Road send-off suggests there is no chance the right-back’s contract is renewed.
Under Farke’s management, the 32-year-old has been little more than a bit part player this season and he hasn’t played in the Championship since October, a clash with Huddersfield which will likely be his final league appearance for the Whites.
Goodbye and good luck
It’s not often in football that a player stays with one club quite as long as Ayling stayed with Leeds United, but ‘Bill’ as he was affectionately dubbed by supporters was almost a throwback of a player in more ways than one.
His performances this season haven’t quite been at the standard required to start week in and week out for a team competing at the top end of the Championship, but over his time at Elland Road, the 32-year-old has given his all to the Whites.
It is nice to see that the club have extended the olive branch to allow him to say a proper goodbye to the supporters and vice versa. Ayling has been an excellent servant and played a huge part in the Whites’ journey the last few years and deserves that recognition.
Hopefully, the Leeds supporters at the clash with Preston will give him the send-off that he deserves as it almost certainly seems like the last time he’ll be representing the Whites at Elland Road, at least in a playing capacity.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are set to pay a compensation fee for a new addition at Elland Road