Leon King

Leon King
Leon King in action for Rangers 2022
Personal information
Full name Leon Thomson King
Date of birth (2004-01-14) 14 January 2004 (age 22)
Place of birth Barrhead, Scotland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Ayr United
Youth career
Rangers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2026 Rangers 27 (0)
2025 → Queen's Park (loan) 9 (0)
2025-2026 → Ayr United (loan) 27 (2)
2026- Ayr United 0 (0)
International career‡
2018 Scotland U16 2 (0)
2019 Scotland U17 4 (0)
2022–2024 Scotland U21 12 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:37, 28 December 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 25 May 2025

Leon Thomson King (born 14 January 2004) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Ayr United.

Club career

Rangers

King joined Rangers in his early years, soon appearing to be one of the club's brightest prospects. He made his Rangers Under-20s debut aged only 14 under the management of Graeme Murty in November 2018. At the end of the 2018–19 season, he was also part of the squad that won the Scottish Youth Cup against Celtic.

King made his Rangers debut on 29 November 2020 in a League Cup match against Falkirk. He made his Scottish Premiership debut for on 12 May 2021, replacing Joe Aribo in the 86th minute of a 3–0 away win against Livingston.

On 5 January 2022, King signed a contract extension until the summer of 2024 and was subsequently promoted to the first-team squad on a full time basis.

On 7 September 2022, King made his debut for Rangers in the UEFA Champions League group stage, coming on as a half time substitute vs Ajax. He made his full starting debut in the competition on 4 October 2022 against Liverpool at Anfield. Due to injuries to other defenders, King would feature in all Rangers Champions League fixtures that campaign.

On 7 September 2025, King joined Scottish Championship side Ayr United on loan until the end of the season. Whilst with the club he won multiple of their end of season awards including Men's Player of the Year.

Ayr United

On 16 July 2026, it was confirmed that King had signed a two year deal to join Ayr United permanently.

International career

King was selected for the Scotland under-21 squad in May 2022.

Career statistics

As of match played 19 January 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rangers 2020–21 Scottish Premiership 1000100020
2021–22 4020000060
2022–23 150002060230
2023–24 5010000060
2024–25 2010000030
Total 270403060410
Rangers B 2021–22 ———2020
Rangers B 2022–23 ———1010
Career total 270403090430
  1. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. ↑ Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
  3. ↑ Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup

Honours

Rangers

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "Leon King Signs 2-year Deal". Ayr United FC. Ayr United FC. 16 July 2026. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Introducing... Leon King". Rangers F.C. Youtube. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  3. ↑ Campbell, Jordan (9 November 2019). "Chelsea and Liverpool among those looking at Rangers' 15-year-old defender King". The Athletic. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  4. ↑ Wright, Angus (9 November 2019). "Rangers face fight to keep hold of 15-year-old defender as English and European giants circle". The Scotsman. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Rangers Academy continues to go from strength to strength". Rangers News. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "Rangers U20s 6-1 Partick Thistle U20s". Rangers F.C. Youtube. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "Rangers crowned Scottish Youth Cup winners". SFA. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  8. ↑ Elgott, Jordan (29 November 2020). "Falkirk 0–4 Rangers". BBC Sport.
  9. ↑ McDougall, Mark (12 May 2021). "Livingston 0 Rangers 3 as Steven Gerrard's men edge closer to 100 point mark". Glasgow Live. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  10. ↑ Campbell, Andy (12 May 2021). "Rangers win to stay unbeaten in league". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  11. ↑ Black, James (13 May 2021). "Rangers veteran delighted after landmark appearance for Ibrox prodigy in Livi win". HITC. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  12. ↑ "LEON KING SIGNS NEW RANGERS CONTRACT". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 5 January 2022.
  13. ↑ "Rangers defender King joins Ayr United on loan". BBC. 7 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "Player of the Year Winners". Ayr United. 27 April 2026. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "Rangers' Alex Lowry one of five new call-ups by Scotland Under-21s". BBC Sport. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  16. ↑ "Games played by Leon King in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  17. ↑ "Games played by Leon King in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  18. ↑ "Games played by Leon King in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  19. ↑ "Games played by Leon King in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  20. ↑ "Games played by Leon King in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  21. ↑ "Games played by Leon King in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  22. ↑ "Rangers top-flight champions for first time since 2011 after Celtic drop points". BBC Sport. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "Rangers 2-0 Hearts". BBC Sport. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  24. ↑ McPheat, Nick (17 December 2023). "Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. BBC.
  25. ↑ "Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Rangers". BBC Sport. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.