Liverpool Born in
El Saucejo,
Seville,
Andalusia, Ayala agreed a move to
Liverpool in September 2007 after rejecting a professional contract with
Sevilla, where he came through the youth team. Liverpool paid a compensation fee to Sevilla and Ayala was offered a three-year contract. In the 2007–08 season he featured predominantly in the Under-18 team, whilst in the 2008–09 season he split his time between the Under-18 and reserve teams. He played through injury in the
FA Youth Cup 2008–09 Final defeat to Arsenal. Ayala made his senior debut on 16 August 2009 in a
Premier League match against
Tottenham Hotspur, coming on as a substitute for the injured
Martin Škrtel and made his first start against
Stoke City at
Anfield three days later. On Halloween, he came on as a substitute in Liverpool's 3–1 defeat against
Fulham at
Craven Cottage, after
Jamie Carragher and
Philipp Degen were sent off. He also played in Liverpool's 4–0 win over
Burnley, subsequently relegating them to the
Championship, and Liverpool's 2–0 defeat against
Chelsea. On 12 November, it was announced that the player had signed an extended contract keeping him at Liverpool until the summer of 2012. In September 2010, Ayala joined
Championship side
Hull City on loan. He started the same day in Hull City's away match at
Cardiff City which they lost 2–0. In his second match for the club against
Derby County he scored his first goal in a competitive match. On 20 September, Liverpool announced that his loan period had been extended until 1 January. Ayala played 12 times for Hull in all competitions, scoring once. On 27 December, he returned to Liverpool due to an injury crisis. On 11 February 2011,
Derby County finally signed Ayala on a loan deal until the end of the season, after the move was delayed due to the players hamstring injury which he picked up while playing for
Hull City. He went on to play 17 times for Derby, making 16 consecutive starts.
Norwich City On 13 August 2011, Ayala signed for
Norwich City for a reported fee of £800,000. The deal officially went through on 16 August 2011. Ayala was handed the number 26 shirt, vacated by
Steven Smith and was named in the squad for the Premier League fixture against Stoke City at Carrow Road on 21 August 2011. This was due to
Zak Whitbread being rated as doubtful for the fixture after picking up a knee knock against Wigan. He made his debut for Norwich as a second-half substitute for Anthony Pilkington following Leon Barnett's sending off against Stoke. Ayala suffered a knee injury in the
League Cup defeat to
Milton Keynes Dons ruling him out for two months. He made his Norwich comeback in the 1–1 draw against Fulham, starting with
Zak Whitbread and playing 90 minutes. Ayala was ruled out for a few weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in a 2–0 win over Bolton. On 7 August 2012, Ayala secured a season-long loan deal with Nottingham Forest. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 home win against
Cardiff City.
Middlesbrough On 23 October 2013, Ayala joined
Championship club
Middlesbrough on a three-month emergency loan spell. He made his debut for Middlesbrough two days later, when his new side crushed
Doncaster Rovers 4–0, taking the honour of scoring on his debut. He bagged in his second goal for the club in his third appearance in their 2–2 draw with
Watford, where he scored the equaliser in the final minute of added time. On 24 January 2014, Ayala joined Middlesbrough on a permanent forty-two month contract. Ayala thus became recently appointed manager
Aitor Karanka's first permanent signing for Middlesbrough, with the fee reported to be in the region of £350,000.
Blackburn Rovers On 15 September 2020, Ayala signed for
Blackburn Rovers on a 3-year deal. Ayala made his debut for Blackburn in their 0–0 draw with Cardiff on 3 October. Ayala scored his first goal for Blackburn in the club's 2–1 win against
Nottingham Forest on 18 August 2021.
Rotherham United On 27 October 2023, Ayala signed for
EFL Championship side
Rotherham United on a short-term deal. On 7 March 2024, Ayala was released by mutual consent.
Potters Bar Town On 22 October 2024, Ayala played for
Potters Bar Town in an
Alan Turvey Trophy loss against
Cheshunt. ==Career statistics==