Adam Clayton (footballer)

Clayton was born in Manchester.[2] He joined Manchester City at the age of seven,[4] and signed his first professional contract with the club in May 2007.[5] Given the number 31 shirt for the 2008–09 season,[6] Clayton was an unused substitute in the Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion in December 2008,[7] and again in an FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest in January 2009.[8] On 5 May, he signed a two-year contract extension.[4]

After seeking the advice of his teammate Craig Bellamy,[9] Clayton joined League One club Carlisle United on 2 November 2009 on loan until January 2010.[10] He made his professional debut five days later in a 2–2 draw with Morecambe in the FA Cup, coming on as a second-half substitute for Tom Taiwo.[11] On 10 November, Clayton scored his first senior goal in Carlisle's 3–1 away win against Chesterfield in the Football League Trophy,[12] and he made his Football League debut four days later in a 3–2 loss to Bristol Rovers.[12] In the last match of his loan spell, Clayton's poor backpass led to Everton taking the lead in the FA 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 against Leeds United in the Football League Trophy semifinal second leg, and converted his penalty in the shootout that took Carlisle through to the final.[15] Clayton played the whole of the final, which Carlisle lost 4–1 to Southampton.[16] He made 36 appearances for Carlisle in all competitions and scored three goals.[12]

Clayton joined Championship club Leeds 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 against Derby County.[18] Manchester City refused permission for him to play in the League Cup. After one more brief outing, Clayton signed a three-year permanent contract with Leeds; the fee was undisclosed.[19][20]

Clayton joined League One club Peterborough 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 team Fulham,[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 the play-off semifinals, in which they were eliminated 4–3 on aggregate by Peterborough United.[18] MK Dons manager Karl 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 midfielders Neil Kilkenny and Bradley 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 alongside Jonny Howson and Michael Brown in a five-man midfield,[28] and made his first competitive start in the opening fixture, a 3–1 loss to Southampton in which he won a penalty which was converted by Max Gradel.[29] He assisted Ramón Núñez' first goal in a 3–2 victory against Bradford 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 against West Ham United;[32] the Yorkshire 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 against Leicester 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 helpless Schmeichel", 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 by Neil 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 promoted Huddersfield 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 the League Cup first round 2–0 away defeat to Preston 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 by Cardiff City at the Cardiff 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 to Ipswich Town on 1 September 2012.[45] Clayton scored his second Huddersfield goal with a penalty in a 3–1 win over Sheffield Wednesday on 19 September 2012.[46] During January 2014, Huddersfield rejected a £1 million transfer bid from Brighton & Hove Albion to sign Clayton.[42] He ended the 2013–14 season by winning the club's Player of the Year award after making 42 league appearances, scoring 7 goals.[47]

Clayton (right) watches Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho on the final day of the 2016–17 Premier League season

On 13 August 2014, Clayton signed a four-year deal with Middlesbrough 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 by Jacob Butterfield who signed for Huddersfield in the swap deal.[49]

Adam Clayton became an integral player in the Middlesbrough midfield under manager Aitor Karanka, forming a formidable partnership alongside club captain Grant Leadbitter.

On 7 May 2016, Clayton won promotion to the Premier League with Middlesbrough after a 1–1 draw at home against Brighton & Hove Albion.[50]

With the arrival of Marten 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 the 2017–18 season.[51]

Garry Monk replaced Karanka as manager for the forthcoming Championship season, and brought in two new central midfielders Lewis Baker and Jonny 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 by Tony Pulis shortly afterwards.[53]

Clayton playing for Middlesbrough in December 2016

When Karanka returned to management with a poor-performing Nottingham Forest side, it was reported that Karanka was looking to sign his former Middlesbrough stars, including Clayton, Leadbitter and Patrick Bamford.[54] However, they all pledged their loyalty and commitment to Middlesbrough and stayed at the Riverside, though fellow Middlesbrough midfielder Adlène 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 manager Neil 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 manager Aitor Karanka at Birmingham 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-tier Cambridge United in the EFL Cup.[58] He began the season well,[59] but conceded a penalty from which Sheffield Wednesday inflicted Birmingham's first league defeat under Karanka,[60] and was sent off three days later near the end of the visit to Norwich City, who promptly scored a winning goal.[61] A foot injury reduced his mobility,[59] and a mistake that led to Coventry 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 club Doncaster Rovers in January 2022.[66] He made his debut on 29 January as a late substitute in a home defeat to Plymouth Argyle, and started the next match, at home to Rotherham United, but according to the Doncaster Free Press, "looked well off the pace" and was replaced at half time.[67][68]

Having played little under new head coach Danny Schofield, Clayton joined divisional rivals Bradford City on 19 January 2023 on a short-term contract until the end of the season.[69][70] In May 2023 it was announced that he would leave Bradford City when his contract expired on 30 June.[71]

On 10 July 2023, Clayton signed a one-year contract with Rochdale.[72]