Adam Stephen Clayton (born 14 January 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Rochdale.
His professional career started at Manchester City. While a City player, he enjoyed loan spells at Carlisle United, with whom he reached the 2010 Football League Trophy Final, and Leeds United, where his loan spell was made permanent basis in 2010. Clayton then had further loan spells at Peterborough United and Milton Keynes Dons before becoming a regular in Leeds' team in the 2011–12 season. He then spent two years with Huddersfield Town, and signed for Middlesbrough in 2014. While at the club, he was promoted to and relegated from the Premier League and formed a midfield partnership with Grant Leadbitter. He spent six seasons at Middlesbrough before leaving the club in 2020 when his contract expired, and then joined another Championship club, Birmingham City, where he stayed until November 2021. Clayton signed for Doncaster Rovers in January 2022, and Bradford City took over his contract a year later.
He was a member of England's under-20 team at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Club career
Manchester City
Clayton was born in Manchester. He joined Manchester City at the age of seven, and signed his first professional contract with the club in May 2007. Given the number 31 shirt for the 2008–09 season, Clayton was an unused substitute in the Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion in December 2008, and again in an FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest in January 2009. On 5 May, he signed a two-year contract extension.
Carlisle United (loan) After seeking the advice of his teammate Craig Bellamy, Clayton joined League One club Carlisle United on 2 November 2009 on loan until January 2010. He made his professional debut five days later in a 2–2 draw with Morecambe in the FA Cup, coming on as a second-half substitute for Tom Taiwo. On 10 November, Clayton scored his first senior goal in Carlisle's 3–1 away win against Chesterfield in the Football League Trophy, and he made his Football League debut four days later in a 3–2 loss to Bristol Rovers. In the last match of his loan spell, Clayton's poor backpass led to Everton taking the lead in the FA Cup third round, but within minutes, he made a powerful run and his shot was deflected in for an equaliser; Everton scored two late goals to win 3–1.
The loan was extended to the end of the season. He scored against Leeds United in the Football League Trophy semifinal second leg, and converted his penalty in the shootout that took Carlisle through to the final. Clayton played the whole of the final, which Carlisle lost 4–1 to Southampton. He made 36 appearances for Carlisle in all competitions and scored three goals.
Leeds United
Clayton joined Championship club Leeds United on a month's loan on 6 August 2010, and made his debut the following day as a 76th-minute substitute in a 2–1 home defeat against Derby County. Manchester City refused permission for him to play in the League Cup. After one more brief outing, Clayton signed a three-year permanent contract with Leeds; the fee was undisclosed.
Loan spells
Clayton joined League One club Peterborough United on 19 November on a month's loan to gain experience and match fitness. He made his debut as a second-half substitute against Southampton, impressed when the weather permitted, and the loan was extended until 30 January 2011. Although Leeds had refused permission for Clayton to play in the FA Cup second round, he was allowed to play in the third round, in which Peterborough lost heavily to Premiership team Fulham, and finished his loan spell with eight appearances.
Having got no closer to Leeds' first team, Clayton joined another League One club, Milton Keynes Dons, on 24 March on loan until the end of the season. He made six league appearances and scored oncea stoppage-time winner against his former club Carlisle Unitedto help MK Dons reach the play-off semifinals, in which they were eliminated 4–3 on aggregate by Peterborough United. MK Dons manager Karl Robinson felt Clayton was one of the better players in League One and would re-sign him if the opportunity arose, but expected him to make a success of the coming season with Leeds.