Luke Ayling: Leeds United defender joins Middlesbrough on loan
Last updated on .From the section Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough have signed Leeds United defender Luke Ayling on loan until the end of the season.
The full-back, 32, played 268 games for Leeds after joining in 2016, but Sunday's FA Cup outing at Peterborough was his first match since November.
Ayling, who began his career at Arsenal and also played for Yeovil and Bristol City, is out of contract this summer.
Leeds called him "one of the best ever signings in the club's history" and "a tremendous servant".
"We're delighted to bring Luke to the club," Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick told his club's website.
"He is a player with good experience, he's a promotion winner, and he's played at the highest level.
"He's a terrific character as well and we see him as a great fit for what we have here. He's exactly what we're looking for at the club."
London-born Ayling lost his place in Daniel Farke's Leeds side to teenager Archie Gray, while Djed Spence also had spells in the team before his loan from Tottenham was ended earlier this month.
Leeds have indicated the loan move marks the end of Ayling's career with them.
Boro, currently four points off the Championship play-off places, are without right-back Anfernee Dijksteel because of injury, while fellow full-back Tommy Smith is likely to remain absent for the rest of the campaign with a long-term ankle problem.
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