 Clayton withBradford City in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Adam Stephen Clayton[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1989-01-14)14 January 1989 (age 36)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Manchester, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Matlock Town (player/manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–2008 | Manchester City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2010 | Manchester City | 0 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | →Carlisle United (loan) | 28 | (1) |
| 2010 | →Leeds United (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2010–2012 | Leeds United | 45 | (6) |
| 2010–2011 | →Peterborough United (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2011 | →Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 6 | (1) |
| 2012–2014 | Huddersfield Town | 85 | (11) |
| 2014–2020 | Middlesbrough | 213 | (1) |
| 2020–2021 | Birmingham City | 14 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Doncaster Rovers | 33 | (0) |
| 2023 | Bradford City | 14 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Rochdale | 27 | (0) |
| 2024 | Liversedge | 10 | (0) |
| 2024– | Matlock Town | 24 | (2) |
| International career | |||
| 2009 | England U20 | 4 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2025– | Matlock Town (player-manager) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:35, 28 April 2025 (UTC) | |||
Adam Stephen Clayton (born 14 January 1989) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as amidfielder forNorthern Premier League Division One East clubMatlock Town, where he holds the role of player-manager.
His professional career started atManchester City. While a City player, he enjoyed loan spells atCarlisle United, with whom he reached the2010 Football League Trophy Final, andLeeds United, where his loan spell was made permanent basis in 2010. Clayton then had further loan spells atPeterborough United andMilton Keynes Dons before becoming a regular in Leeds' team in the 2011–12 season. He then spent two years withHuddersfield Town, and signed forMiddlesbrough in 2014. While at the club, he was promoted to and relegated from thePremier League and formed a midfield partnership withGrant Leadbitter. He spent six seasons at Middlesbrough before leaving the club in 2020 when his contract expired, and then joined anotherChampionship club,Birmingham City, where he stayed until November 2021. Clayton signed for Doncaster Rovers in January 2022,Bradford City took over his contract a year later, and he spent the 2023–24 season withRochdale and began the following campaign withLiversedge before taking up a player/coach role with Matlock Town.
He was a member ofEngland's under-20 team at the2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Clayton was born inManchester.[2] He joinedManchester City at the age of seven,[4] and signed his first professional contract with the club in May 2007.[5] Given thenumber 31 shirt for the2008–09 season,[6] Clayton was an unusedsubstitute in thePremier League match againstWest Bromwich Albion in December 2008,[7] and again in anFA Cup tie againstNottingham Forest in January 2009.[8] On 5 May, he signed a two-year contract extension.[4]
After seeking the advice of his teammateCraig Bellamy,[9] Clayton joinedLeague One clubCarlisle United on 2 November 2009 on loan until January 2010.[10] He made his professional debut five days later in a 2–2 draw withMorecambe in the FA Cup, coming on as a second-half substitute forTom Taiwo.[11] On 10 November, Clayton scored his first senior goal in Carlisle's 3–1 away win againstChesterfield in theFootball League Trophy,[12] and he made hisFootball League debut four days later in a 3–2 loss toBristol Rovers.[12] In the last match of his loan spell, Clayton's poor backpass led toEverton taking the lead in theFA Cup third round, but within minutes, he made a powerful run and his shot was deflected in for an equaliser; Everton scored two late goals to win 3–1.[13]
The loan was extended to the end of the season.[14] He scored againstLeeds United in the Football League Trophy semifinal second leg, and converted hispenalty in theshootout that took Carlisle through tothe final.[15] Clayton played the whole of the final, which Carlisle lost 4–1 toSouthampton.[16] He made 36 appearances for Carlisle in all competitions and scored three goals.[12]
Clayton joinedChampionship clubLeeds United on a month's loan on 6 August 2010,[17] and made his debut the following day as a 76th-minute substitute in a 2–1 home defeat againstDerby County.[18] Manchester City refused permission for him to play in theLeague Cup.[citation needed] After one more brief outing, Clayton signed a three-year permanent contract with Leeds; the fee was undisclosed.[19][20]
Clayton joined League One clubPeterborough United on 19 November on a month's loan to gain experience and match fitness.[21] He made his debut as a second-half substitute against Southampton,[18] impressed when the weather permitted, and the loan was extended until 30 January 2011.[22] Although Leeds had refused permission for Clayton to play in the FA Cup second round,[23] he was allowed to play in the third round, in which Peterborough lost heavily to Premiership teamFulham,[24] and finished his loan spell with eight appearances.[18]
Having got no closer to Leeds' first team, Clayton joined another League One club,Milton Keynes Dons, on 24 March on loan until the end of the season.[25] He made six league appearances and scored once – a stoppage-time winner against his former club Carlisle United[26] – to help MK Dons reach theplay-off semifinals, in which they were eliminated 4–3 on aggregate by Peterborough United.[18] MK Dons managerKarl Robinson felt Clayton was one of the better players in League One and would re-sign him if the opportunity arose, but expected him to make a success of the coming season with Leeds.[26]
After first-choice midfieldersNeil Kilkenny andBradley Johnson both left Leeds United in the 2011–12 pre-season, Clayton declared himself ready to challenge for a place.[27] He started pre-season alongsideJonny Howson andMichael Brown in a five-man midfield,[28] and made his first competitive start in the opening fixture, a 3–1 loss toSouthampton in which he won a penalty which was converted byMax Gradel.[29] He assistedRamón Núñez' first goal in a 3–2 victory againstBradford City in the League Cup.[30] Having come close to scoring his first Leeds goal with "the most audacious of attempts from distance which almost caught out" Middlesbrough's goalkeeper,Carl Ikeme, on 13 August,[31] he succeeded a week later with a late equaliser againstWest Ham United;[32] theYorkshire Evening Post had suggested that facing an opposing midfield as strong as West Ham's would be "the essence of an acid test" for any aspiring midfielder.[33]
By mid-September, he was reportedly attracting the interest of several Premiership clubs,[34] but said he was hoping to stay at Leeds for "a very long time".[35] His third goal of the season came against his former club Peterborough United on 22 October,[36] and the matchwinner againstLeicester City on 6 November, when "a loose ball fell to Clayton who connected first time to send a 25-yard (23 m) curler into the top corner past a helplessSchmeichel", earned him the club's Goal of the Season award.[37][38] In April 2012, Clayton received a two-match ban for accumulating ten yellow cards over the course of the season.[39]
After his first season as a regular and with one year left on his contract, Clayton told the press that he was discussing an extension and hoped to stay on at Leeds.[40] Terms could not be agreed, and he was one of six senior players transfer-listed byNeil Warnock, who explained that no player would leave unless the club received a suitable offer, and if Clayton did not leave, he would be welcome to fight for his place in 2012–13.[20]
On 6 July 2012, former Leeds manager Simon Grayson signed Clayton for newly promotedHuddersfield Town for a fee of £350,000.[41][42] He was given the number 8 shirt, formerly worn by teammate Anthony Kay.[43] He made his Huddersfield début in theLeague Cup first round 2–0 away defeat toPreston North End on 13 August 2012, playing the full 90 minutes of the game.[44] Clayton made his league début in a 1–0 defeat byCardiff City at theCardiff City Stadium on 17 August. He scored his first goal for Huddersfield with the opening goal in the side's 2–2 league draw away toIpswich Town on 1 September 2012.[45] Clayton scored his second Huddersfield goal with a penalty in a 3–1 win overSheffield Wednesday on 19 September 2012.[46] During January 2014, Huddersfield rejected a £1 million transfer bid fromBrighton & Hove Albion to sign Clayton.[42] He ended the2013–14 season by winning the club's Player of the Year award after making 42 league appearances, scoring 7 goals.[47]
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On 13 August 2014, Clayton signed a four-year deal withMiddlesbrough after a long transfer process for an undisclosed fee believed to be £1.5 million plus add-ons.[48] He was handed the number 8 shirt, previously worn byJacob Butterfield who signed for Huddersfield in the swap deal.[49]
Adam Clayton became an integral player in theMiddlesbrough midfield under managerAitor Karanka, forming a formidable partnership alongside club captainGrant Leadbitter.
On 7 May 2016, Clayton won promotion to thePremier League withMiddlesbrough after a 1–1 draw at home againstBrighton & Hove Albion.[50]
With the arrival ofMarten de Roon in the summer of 2016, it was reported that Clayton and Leadbitter could leave Middlesbrough, though they both stayed, as Karanka promised the midfield duo game time in the Premier League. Despite their efforts, the club were immediately relegated back down to the Championship for the2017–18 season.[51]
Garry Monk replaced Karanka as manager for the forthcoming Championship season, and brought in two new central midfieldersLewis Baker andJonny Howson, though Clayton continued to play regular first team football. However, the club failed to meet their league expectations, with them placed just below the play-off positions, Monk was sacked,[52] to be replaced byTony Pulis shortly afterwards.[53]
_(cropped).JPG)
When Karanka returned to management with a poor-performingNottingham Forest side, it was reported that Karanka was looking to sign his former Middlesbrough stars, including Clayton, Leadbitter andPatrick Bamford.[54] However, they all pledged their loyalty and commitment to Middlesbrough and stayed at the Riverside, though fellow Middlesbrough midfielderAdlène Guedioura left to return to Forest, one of his former clubs.[55]
Having failed to agree to a new contract, Clayton confirmed his departure through social media, with the club also reporting the news the following day: new managerNeil Warnock had informed him that he was not needed at the club and he departed on holiday on the same day as the final game of the Championship season.[56]
On 1 September 2020, Clayton joined his former managerAitor Karanka atBirmingham City, where he signed a two-year contract with an option for a further year.[57] He made his debut as a second-half substitute in the opening fixture of the season, a 1–0 defeat at home to fourth-tierCambridge United in the EFL Cup.[58] He began the season well,[59] but conceded a penalty from whichSheffield Wednesday inflicted Birmingham's first league defeat under Karanka,[60] and was sent off three days later near the end of the visit toNorwich City, who promptly scored a winning goal.[61] A foot injury reduced his mobility,[59] and a mistake that led toCoventry City's equaliser at the end of January earned him "swingeing criticism".[62] Although Karanka said he still had faith in him,[63] Clayton never played for the club again.[64] His contract was terminated by mutual consent on 5 November 2021.[65]
Clayton signed an 18-month contract with League One clubDoncaster Rovers in January 2022.[66] He made his debut on 29 January as a late substitute in a home defeat toPlymouth Argyle, and started the next match, at home toRotherham United, but according to theDoncaster Free Press, "looked well off the pace" and was replaced at half time.[67][68]
Having played little under new head coachDanny Schofield, Clayton joined divisional rivalsBradford City on 19 January 2023 on a short-term contract until the end of the season.[69][70] He left the club when his contract expired.[71]
Clayton signed a one-year contract withNational League clubRochdale on 10 July 2023.[72] He left the club at the end of the2023–24 season.[73]
In August 2024, Clayton signed forNorthern Premier League Division One East clubLiversedge.[74][75] He made 11 appearances in all competitions[76] before moving on to Northern Premier League Premier Division clubMatlock Town in October as player/coach.[77]
Clayton was called into theEngland under-20 squad for a friendly againstItaly in March 2009 to replaceTom Cleverley, who withdrew from the original selection.[78] England won 2–0, and Clayton made his international debut as a second-half substitute forJosh Walker.[79] He was a member ofEngland's squad for the2009 U20 World Cup, where he wore the number 4 shirt.[80] He started two of England's three matches as they were eliminated at the group stage.[79]
In March 2025, Clayton was appointed interim player-manager of Matlock Town following the departure ofRyan Cresswell until the end of the2024–25 season.[81] Despite being unable to save the club from relegation, he was appointed to the role permanently on 28 April 2025.[82]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester City | 2008–09[83] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009–10[12] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Carlisle United (loan) | 2009–10[12] | League One | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 5[a] | 2 | 36 | 3 | |
| Leeds United | 2010–11[18] | Championship | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12[36] | Championship | 43 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 46 | 6 | ||
| Total | 47 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 50 | 6 | |||
| Peterborough United (loan) | 2010–11[18] | League One | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 2010–11[18] | League One | 6 | 1 | — | — | 2[b] | 0 | 8 | 1 | ||
| Huddersfield Town | 2012–13[84] | Championship | 43 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 48 | 5 | |
| 2013–14[85] | Championship | 42 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 46 | 7 | ||
| Total | 85 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 94 | 12 | |||
| Middlesbrough | 2014–15[86] | Championship | 41 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | 49 | 0 |
| 2015–16[87] | Championship | 43 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 48 | 1 | ||
| 2016–17[88] | Premier League | 34 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 39 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18[89] | Championship | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 37 | 0 | |
| 2018–19[90] | Championship | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20[91] | Championship | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 30 | 0 | ||
| Total | 213 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 241 | 1 | ||
| Birmingham City | 2020–21[64] | Championship | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | |
| 2021–22[67] | Championship | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | |||
| Doncaster Rovers | 2021–22[67] | League One | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23[92] | League Two | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| Total | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | ||
| Bradford City | 2022–23[92] | League Two | 14 | 0 | — | — | 2[d] | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Rochdale | 2023–24[7] | National League | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[e] | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| Liversedge | 2024–25[76] | Northern Premier League (NPL) Division One East | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[e] | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Matlock Town[93] | 2024–25 | NPL Premier Division | 24 | 2 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 508 | 22 | 28 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 568 | 25 | ||
Carlisle United
Middlesbrough
Individual
