Josh Ayres
|
Ayres in 2026 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joshua George Ayres[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 24 November 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | England | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Woking | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Rotherham United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2026 | Rotherham United | 5 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Buxton (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | → Sheffield (loan) | 12 | (7) |
| 2025 | → Matlock Town (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2025 | → Emley (loan) | 5 | (2) |
| 2025 | → Cleethorpes Town (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2025 | → Gainsborough Trinity (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2026 | → Alfreton Town (loan) | 11 | (5) |
| 2026– | Woking | 0 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Joshua George Ayres (born 24 November 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for National League club Woking.
Career
Rotherham United
On 18 September 2023, Ayres signed his first professional contract with Rotherham United.[2] On 10 August 2024, he joined National League North side Buxton on a month-long loan.[3] On 29 October 2024, he then joined Sheffield on a month-long loan.[4] His loan was then extended until January 2025.[5] On 7 February 2025, he joined Northern Premier League side Matlock Town on loan until the end of the season,[6] on 20 March 2025, he had then moved to Emley on loan.[7]
He made his professional debut for Rotherham United on 4 February 2025, in a 1–0 defeat to Bradford City in the EFL Trophy.[8] On 20 August 2025, he joined Cleethorpes Town on a month-long loan.[9] On 30 September 2025, he joined Gainsborough Trinity on a month-long loan.[10]
He scored his first goal for Rotherham United on 28 October 2025, in a 4–2 win against Manchester City U21 in the EFL Trophy.[11] On 22 January 2026, he joined National League North side Alfreton Town on loan until the end of the season.[12] On 18 March 2026, he was recalled from his loan.[13]
Woking
On 28 May 2026, Ayres agreed to join National League side, Woking on a one-year deal with an additional option year.[14]
Career statistics
- As of match played 21 March 2026
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rotherham United | 2024–25[15] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025–26[16] | League One | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[a] | 2 | 10 | 2 | |
| Total | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 2 | ||
| Buxton (loan) | 2024–25[15] | National League North | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Sheffield (loan) | 2024–25[17] | Northern Premier League Division One East | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 1 | 14 | 8 | |
| Matlock Town (loan) | 2024–25[18] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Emley (loan) | 2024–25[19] | Northern Premier League Division One East | 5 | 2 | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 6 | 2 | ||
| Cleethorpes Town (loan) | 2025–26[20] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Gainsborough Trinity (loan) | 2025–26[21] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1[d] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Alfreton Town (loan) | 2025–26[16] | National League North | 11 | 5 | — | — | — | 11 | 5 | |||
| Woking | 2026–27[22] | National League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 41 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 52 | 17 | ||
- ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy
- ^ Appearances in Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup
- ^ Appearances in Northern Premier League play-offs
- ^ Appearances in FA Trophy
References
- ^ English Football League (2025). "Squad List 2024/25 & U21 Registered Contract Players" (PDF). EFL – Squad List 2024/25.
- ^ "AYRES PENS PROFESSIONAL DEAL". Rotherham United F.C. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "AYRES JOINS BUXTON ON LOAN". Rotherham United F.C. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "CLUB MAKE DOUBLE SIGNING". Sheffield F.C. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "JOSH AYRES EXTENDS LOAN DEAL FROM ROTHERHAM UNITED". Sheffield F.C. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "AYRES MAKES MATLOCK LOAN MOVE". Rotherham United F.C. 7 February 2025. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "AYRES MAKES EMLEY LOAN SWITCH". Rotherham United F.C. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "Rotherham United 0–1 Bradford City". ESPN. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "Ayres makes Cleethorpes loan switch". Rotherham United F.C. 20 August 2025. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "Josh Ayres in to Boost Attacking Options". Gainsborough Trinity F.C. 30 September 2025. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "Rotherham United 4–2 Manchester City U21". BBC Sport. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "Ayres makes Alfreton loan switch". Rotherham United F.C. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "Millers recall Ayres from Alfreton loan". Rotherham United F.C. 18 March 2026. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ Hurst, Jonathan (28 May 2026). "Josh Ayres Joins". wokingfc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ^ a b "Games played by Josh Ayres in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Games played by Josh Ayres in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "Sheffield F.C. – Appearances – Josh Ayres". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "Matlock Town F.C. – Appearances – Josh Ayres". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "Emley A.F.C. – Appearances – Josh Ayres". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ "Josh Ayres - Cleethorpes Town FC First Team". pitchero.com. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ^ For FA Trophy third qualifying round "Gainsborough Trinity 3 Shifnal Town 2". gainsboroughtrinity.com. 5 October 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
For Northern Premier League Premier Division "Workington 1 Gainsborough Trinity 2". gainsboroughtrinity.com. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2026. - ^ "Games played by Josh Ayres in 2026/2027". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2026.