Ajay Matthews
English footballer (born 2007)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ajay Matthews (born 11 June 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Leyton Orient on loan from EFL Championship club Millwall.
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Matthews in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ajay Matthews[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 11 June 2006[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Middlesbrough, England | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Leyton Orient (on loan from Millwall) | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2014–2025 | Middlesbrough | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2025 | Middlesbrough | 2 | (0) |
| 2025– | Millwall | 0 | (0) |
| 2026– | → Leyton Orient (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | England U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2024 | England U18 | 2 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:20, 31 January 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 12:06, 28 May 2024 (UTC) | |||
Early life
His father Lee Matthews is a former footballer as well as his agent.[3]
Career
Middlesbrough
Matthews joined the academy on hometown club Middlesbrough at under-9s level having been spotted playing for local side Marton Juniors.[4] Having progressed through the academy system, he signed a first professional two-year contract in June 2023 following an impressive first season as a scholar.[5]
Ahead of the 2023–24 season, Matthews featured for the first-team in pre-season friendlies, notably scoring against Hartlepool United.[6] On 22 April 2024, Matthews made his first-team senior debut for the club, coming on as a substitute in a 4–3 home defeat to Leeds United.[7] The debut came amidst rumours linking him to a number of top European clubs for the upcoming summer transfer window.[8]
Millwall
On 30 January 2025, Matthews signed for Championship club Millwall on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.[9]
On 16 January 2026, Matthews joined League One club Leyton Orient on loan for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.[10]
International career
Matthews represented the England U17 team at the 2022 Nordic Cup.[11]
In May 2024, Matthews was called up for the England U18s and made his debut which he had scored the final goal during a 4–2 win over Northern Ireland and at St. George's Park.[12]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 31 January 2026[13]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Middlesbrough | 2023–24[14] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| 2024–25[15] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Millwall | 2024–25[15] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2025–26[16] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Leyton Orient (loan) | 2025–26[16] | League One | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |||