Biography
Spanish defender Ayala joined City on loan in September 2010 and slotted into the first team straight away. He suffered a head injury early in his time at the KC Stadium and sported a large white bandage on his head for several games. However he soon struggled with injuries and returned back to Liverpool, his parent club, at the end of December 2010.
Born near Seville in Spain, Ayala chose Liverpool over his local La Liga side Sevilla at the age of 17. He made his senior debut for the Reds in August 2009 and made a handful of appearances prior to his loan move to Hull City.
On returning to Liverpool Ayala continues to inhabit the fringes of the first team scene, before switching to Norwich City in 2011. Injury again hampered his chances at Carrow Road and he made loan moves to Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough in the second and third years of his Norwich contract. In January 2014 he switched permanently to Middlesbrough and finally found a club and fitness levels to be a first team regular. In six years Ayala played in over 200 matches in all competitions, in September 2020 he was released and joined Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer. He spent three seasona at Blackburn and scored four goals in 57 appearances but by the end of the 2022/23 season he was rarely selected for the first team and left in May 2023 on a free transfer.
In October 2023 Ayala joined Championship side Rotherham United on a deal that extended to the end of the 2023/24 season. He was unfortunate to be red carded twice in a week during December 2023 and dropped out of the first team picture, leaving the Millers by mutual consent in March 2024.
Ayala won a solitary Spanish under-21 cap against France in March 2011.
Details
Nationality: Spain
Date/Place of Birth: 7 November 1990, Sevilla (Spain)
Hull City First Game: 11 September 2010, Cardiff City A (Championship), 19 years, 308 days old
Hull City Final Game: 12 November 2010, Preston North End A (Championship), 20 years, 5 days old
Clubs
Liverpool (2007-2011), Hull City (2010, loan), Derby County (2011, loan), Norwich City (2011-2014), Nottingham Forest (2012-2013, loan), Middlesbrough (2013-2014, loan), Middlesbrough (2014-2020), Blackburn Rovers (2020-2023), Rotherham United (2023-2024)
Hull City Record
Career: 12 apps, 1 goals
Daniel Ayala| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010/11 | 12 (0) | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |