Loick Denis Henry Ayina (born 20 April 2003) is a Congolese professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...

who plays as a defender for Huddersfield Town.

Career

Born in the

Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply either Congo or the Congo, is a country located in the western coast of Central Africa to the w ...

capital

Brazzaville Brazzaville (, kg, Kintamo, Nkuna, Kintambo, Ntamo, Mavula, Tandala, Mfwa, Mfua; Teke: ''M'fa'', ''Mfaa'', ''Mfa'', ''Mfoa''Roman Adrian Cybriwsky, ''Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture'', ABC-CLI ...

, he moved to Paris, France as a youngster, Diarra started his football career playing for local Parisian club Montrouge F.C. 92, before moving to

Athletic Club de Boulogne-Billancourt Athletic Club de Boulogne-Billancourt or A.C.B.B. is a French sports club based in the suburbs of Paris in the commune of Boulogne-Billancourt. The club offers a variety of sports, but is primarily known for cycling, rugby union, judo, figure s ...

. Alongside fellow Frenchman Brahima Diarra, he moved to Huddersfield Town in July 2019, and they both signed professional contracts with the club a year later. In October 2021, Ayina joined National League North side

Boston United Boston United Football Club is a semi-professional association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. The club participates in the National League North, at the sixth tier of the English football league system. The club is known ...

on a one-month loan. Ayina made his senior debut for Huddersfield Town on 7 January 2023, when he played in their 3–1 FA Cup defeat against

Preston North End Preston North End Football Club, commonly referred to as Preston, North End or PNE, is a professional football club in Preston, Lancashire, England, who currently play in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league syste ...

, where he received an early yellow card, and was substituted before half-time, for fear of a second yellow card. On 31 January 2023, Ayina joined Dundee United on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season. He was sent off on his debut, against

Kilmarnock Kilmarnock (, sco, Kilmaurnock; gd, Cill Mheàrnaig (IPA: ʰʲɪʎˈveaːɾnəkʲ, "Marnock's church") is a large town and former burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland and is the administrative centre of East Ayrshire, East Ayrshire Council. ...

in the Scottish Cup. Ayina would return to Huddersfield at the end of the season following United's relegation to the Scottish Championship.

References

2003 births Living people Footballers from Paris Republic of the Congo men's footballers Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players Boston United F.C. players Men's association football midfielders English Football League players Expatriate men's footballers in England Footballers from Brazzaville Dundee United F.C. players Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland {{France-footy-defender-stub