Craig Scott

Wed 10 January 2024 18:36, UK

John Terry has sent his love to Luke Ayling after it was confirmed the right-back has left Leeds United to join Middlesbrough on loan.

Ayling, 32, penned a goodbye message to Leeds fans via his personal Instagram account on Wednesday (10 January) after the move was announced as while he’s only going to Boro on loan, his Elland Road contract will still expire this summer with it not looking as though it’ll be renewed.

Loads of current and former Leeds players replied to Ayling with David Prutton, who is now Sky Sports’ main EFL host, saying that the right-back is one of Leeds’ “modern greats”.

Ex-Chelsea and England defender Terry simply replied with three blue hearts while musician Ellie Goulding and darts world champion Luke Humphries also reached out to Ayling to thank him for his time at Elland Road.

Eh?

Why’s Terry reacting to Ayling’s transfer announcement?

Looking back through their careers, it’s hard to see where the paths will have crossed as Terry had only ever been associated with England, West Ham, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa in his playing days and Aston Villa and Leicester as a coach.

Ayling hasn’t had an affiliation with any of those teams but both were born in London – that’s the only connection we can really make other than Football Manager once listed Terry as Ayling’s idol in the game.

It’s a strange one and one that could maybe come up in a Leeds trivia night at some point in the future.

‘What do John Terry, Ellie Goulding, Luke Humphries and Adebayo Akinfenwa (yes, he replied as well) have in common? They all replied to Luke Ayling’s goodbye message to Leeds United’.

What a weird dinner party that would be.

Ayling has been a great servant for Leeds and we’ll miss him as a character but as a player, this move is long overdue and we’re excited to see who Daniel Farke can bring in to replace Bill.

In other Leeds United news, this exit-bound Leeds player is hurt by what fans have said about him as terms are agreed.