Ajay Matthews

Ajay Matthews
Matthews in 2025
Personal information
Full name Ajay Matthews
Date of birth (2006-06-11) 11 June 2006 (age 20)
Place of birth Middlesbrough, England
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 Exeter City
(on loan from Millwall)
Number 15
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)
2026– → Exeter City (loan) 1 (0)
International career‡
2022 England U17 3 (0)
2024 England U18 2 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:37, 5 September 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 12:06, 28 May 2024 (UTC)

Ajay Matthews (born 11 June 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Exeter City on loan from EFL Championship club Millwall.

Early life

His father Lee Matthews is a former footballer as well as his agent.

Club career

Middlesbrough

Matthews joined the academy on hometown club Middlesbrough at under-9s level having been spotted playing for local side Marton Juniors. 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.

Ahead of the 2023–24 season, Matthews featured for the first-team in pre-season friendlies, notably scoring against Hartlepool United. 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. The debut came amidst rumours linking him to a number of top European clubs for the upcoming summer transfer window.

Millwall

On 30 January 2025, Matthews signed for Championship club Millwall on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.

On 16 January 2026, Matthews joined League One club Leyton Orient on loan for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.

On 1 September 2026, he joined League Two club Exeter City on a season-long loan deal.

International career

Matthews represented the England U17 team at the 2022 Nordic Cup.

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.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 31 January 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Middlesbrough 2023–24 Championship 200000—20
2024–25 Championship 000000—00
Total 200000—20
Millwall 2024–25 Championship 0000——00
2025–26 Championship 001020—30
Total 001020—30
Leyton Orient (loan) 2025–26 League One 40———40
Career total 601020—90

References

  1. ↑ "SQUAD LIST 2023/24 & U21 REGISTERED CONTRACT PLAYERS" (PDF). English Football League. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  2. ↑ Ajay Matthews at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  3. ↑ "Ajay Matthews". Middlesbrough FC. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  4. ↑ Shaw, Dominic (28 June 2023). "Middlesbrough striker Ajay Matthews signs first pro contract". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "Ajay Matthews Signs First Pro Contract". www.mfc.co.uk. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  6. ↑ Johns, Craig (19 July 2023). "Michael Carrick makes Middlesbrough academy pledge as youngsters look to impress in pre-season". Teesside Live. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "Middlesbrough 3–4 Leeds: Whites go second in Championship". BBC Sport. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  8. ↑ Johns, Craig (19 April 2024). "Eleven Middlesbrough youngsters who could be given Championship chance in the final three games". Teesside Gazette. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  9. ↑ "Millwall announce Ajay Matthews signing". www.millwallfc.co.uk. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "Striker Ajay Matthews joins Orient on loan from Millwall". www.leytonorient.com. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "Danny Rose and Ajay Matthews join on Deadline Day!". www.exetercityfc.co.uk. 1 September 2026. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  12. ↑ "Boro Youngsters Feature For England U17s". www.mfc.co.uk. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  13. ↑ "Report: England MU18s 4-2 Northern Ireland". EnglandFootball.com. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  14. ↑ Ajay Matthews at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  15. ↑ "Games played by Ajay Matthews in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  16. 1 2 "Games played by Ajay Matthews in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  17. 1 2 "Games played by Ajay Matthews in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 March 2026.