Jayson Leutwiler
Leutwiler with Port Vale in 2023
Personal information
Full name Jayson William Leutwiler[1]
Date of birth (1989-04-25) 25 April 1989[2]
Place of birth Neuchâtel, Switzerland[3]
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Port Vale
Number 13
Youth career
1994–2002 FC Cornaux
2002–2005 Neuchâtel Xamax
2005–2007 FC Basel
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2012 Basel 0 (0)
2007 → Concordia Basel (loan)
2009–2010 → Yverdon-Sport (loan) 30 (0)
2010 → Wohlen (loan) 15 (0)
2012 → Schaffhausen (loan)
2012–2014 Middlesbrough 3 (0)
2014–2017 Shrewsbury Town 118 (0)
2017–2020 Blackburn Rovers 6 (0)
2020–2021 Fleetwood Town 16 (0)
2021 Huddersfield Town 0 (0)
2021–2023 Oldham Athletic 22 (0)
2023– Port Vale 0 (0)
International career
2005 Switzerland U16 2 (0)
2006–2007 Switzerland U18 1 (0)
2008 Switzerland U19 2 (0)
2008–2010 Switzerland U20 3 (0)
2016–2017 Canada 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:33, 1 May 2023 (UTC)

Jayson William Leutwiler (born 25 April 1989) is a professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League One club Port Vale. He was capped by Switzerland up to under-20 level. He later transferred his national allegiance to Canada, receiving his first call-up to the national team in October 2016. He was chosen for their squads at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

A product of the Basel academy, Leutwiler never played a first-team game for the club, and instead spent time on loan at Concordia Basel, Yverdon-Sport, Wohlen, and Schaffhausen. He signed with English Championship club Middlesbrough in August 2012, where he would play five games in two seasons before joining Shrewsbury Town in June 2014. He immediately established himself as the club's first-choice goalkeeper, playing every league game as Shrewsbury secured promotion out of League Two at the end of the 2014–15 season, keeping a club record 23 clean sheets. He was signed by Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee in August 2017, having made 140 appearances in three seasons with Shrewsbury.

Blackburn secured promotion out of League One at the end of the 2017–18 campaign, though Leutwiler made just thirteen appearances in his three seasons at the club. He spent September 2020 to January 2021 at Fleetwood Town and then ended the 2020–21 season as a back-up goalkeeper at Huddersfield Town. He joined Oldham Athletic in June 2021, where he featured 31 times in two seasons, before joining Port Vale in June 2023.

Early life

Jayson William Leutwiler was born on 25 April 1989 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.[3] His parents, Jean-Marc and Pascale, were both born in Neuchâtel.[3] He speaks French, German, and English.[3] He holds dual Swiss/Canadian citizenship.[4]

Club career

Early career

Leutwiler started his youth soccer with the local club in Cornaux at the age of five.[3] In 2002, he moved to the youth system of Neuchâtel Xamax and stayed there until 2005. He was scouted by FC Basel in a match that Neuchâtel Xamax under-16s had lost 6–0.[5]

With future Switzerland and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Yann Sommer also at Basel, Leutwiler needed loan spells in order to gain first-team experience.[6] He spent time on loan at Swiss Challenge League club Concordia Basel. He returned to the Swiss Challenge League on loan at Yverdon-Sport for the 2009–10 season, making his debut in a 5–3 defeat at Thun on 26 July.[7] He played 30 games during his time at the Stade Municipal.[8]

He spent the first half of the 2010–11 season on loan at Wohlen, but was unable to hold the first-choice goalkeeper position, so returned to Basel.[9] On 27 January 2012, he joined Schaffhausen on loan until the end of the 2011–12 season.

Middlesbrough

On 14 August 2012, Leutwiler signed with English Championship club Middlesbrough following a spell on trial.[10][11] He had been scouted by Gary Gill, who arranged a trial through agent Gaetano Giallanza whilst Leutwiler was with Schaffhausen.[5] He was allowed a run of games in pre-season friendlies whilst established number one Jason Steele was with the Great Britain Olympic team.[12] He made his competitive debut in a 3–1 win away at Preston North End in the League Cup third round on 25 September.[13]

He made his league debut for the club on 10 August 2013, in a 1–0 win over Charlton Athletic at The Valley, replacing Steele for the last 12 minutes shortly after Lukas Jutkiewicz had scored the only goal of the game.[14] A week later, with Steele still injured, Leutwiler made his first league start at the Riverside Stadium against Blackpool; he conceded after 83 minutes from Chris Basham, but Marvin Emnes scored an equaliser in added time.[15] Leutwiler's third and final league appearance of the season came on 23 November, in Aitor Karanka's first match in charge, away to Leeds United; in the last minute of the first half, Steele was sent off for a foul on Dexter Blackstock and Leutwiler was brought on at the expense of Emnes in a 2–1 defeat.[16] He was confirmed to be released by the club on 16 May 2014.[17]

Shrewsbury Town

Leutwiler celebrates with Shrewsbury Town supporters after winning promotion to League One in April 2015.

Leutwiler became the eighth summer signing to join newly-relegated Shrewsbury Town in League Two on a two-year deal on 11 June 2014, where new manager Micky Mellon was rebuilding the squad.[18][19] He had been recommended to the club by former Middlesbrough goalkeeper and current Shrewsbury coach Danny Coyne.[20] He started the season as first choice goalkeeper, keeping a clean sheet in each of the first three rounds of the League Cup, all against higher division opposition, to set up a fourth round tie with Chelsea at the New Meadow.[21][22] It was documented in February 2015 that Leutwiler had kept more clean sheets that season than any goalkeeper in Europe, 20 in 39 matches.[23][24] Leutwiler broke the club record for most clean sheets in a league season, after keeping his 22nd clean sheet in a home match against York City,[25][26] before clinching promotion to League One the following weekend with a 1–0 victory at Cheltenham Town on his 26th-birthday.[27]

Leutwiler continued in his role as first-choice goalkeeper at Shrewsbury until a back injury ruled him out of a home match against Blackpool in September 2015, ending a run of 54 consecutive starts in the Football League, losing his place to Mark Halstead.[28] He was immediately reinstated on his return to fitness, although he suffered concussion and facial injuries in a televised FA Cup second-round match at Grimsby Town in December which saw Halstead deputise for him once again.[29] He returned to the side for an away match at Burton Albion, as Shrewsbury beat the league leaders 2–1.[30]

With Shrewsbury avoiding relegation in their first season back in League One, Leutwiler signed a new contract in June 2016, keeping him at the club until summer 2018.[31] He made 49 appearances in the 2016–17 campaign, but manager Paul Hurst said that Leutwiler was not in his first-team plans beyond the summer.[32][33]

Blackburn Rovers

On 2 August 2017, Blackburn Rovers announced the signing of Leutwiler on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[34] He was second-choice to the Spaniard David Raya and did not make his debut until 4 November in the first round of the FA Cup against Barnet; Blackburn won 3–1 at home and local newspaper the Lancashire Telegraph wrote that he was "left exposed for the Barnet goal but in truth had a relatively trouble-free Rovers debut".[35] He played the remainder of their cup campaign, a win over Crewe Alexandra on a replay, then a 1–0 loss to Hull City at Ewood Park in the third round on 6 January 2018.[36] Leutwiler's league debut for Rovers was his only such appearance of the League One promotion-winning season, a 1–0 loss at Charlton Athletic on 28 April.[37] He played the final five matches of the 2018–19 Championship season as manager Tony Mowbray assessed whether to offer him a new contract.[38] He was limited to three cup appearances in the 2019–20 campaign.[39]

Fleetwood Town

Following an unsuccessful trial at Accrington Stanley, Leutwiler joined League One club Fleetwood Town on 11 September 2020, where #1 Joel Coleman had recently suffered a severe hamstring injury.[40][41] He departed the club on 8 January 2021, following the expiration of his contract.[42] He had conceded just 14 goals in 18 games, but left the club shortly after manager Joey Barton, who prior to his departure had offered to personally pay Leutwiler's £500-per-week wages for the cash-strapped club.[43][44][45]

Huddersfield Town

On 1 February 2021, Leutwiler joined Championship side Huddersfield Town on a deal until the end of the 2020–21 season.[46] He had impressed Carlos Corberán on trial, who needed cover for 21-year old Ryan Schofield.[45] He did not make a first-team appearance during his time at the Kirklees Stadium.[47]

Oldham Athletic

On 22 June 2021, Leutwiler joined League Two side Oldham Athletic, signing a two-year deal; manager Keith Curle had needed to build a new goalkeeping team at Boundary Park after the club were reliant on loanees the previous season.[48][49] A renegotiation of his contract was though necessary two months later due to "an unfortunate misinterpretation of the full terms of the monitored EFL loan".[50][51] He was unable to establish himself in goal after John Sheridan replaced interim manager Selim Benachour in January 2022.[52] He played 29 matches in the 2021–22 season as Oldham were relegated out of the Football League.[53] He did not feature at all in the National League as Magnus Norman was an ever-present.[54] He instead featured twice in cup games in the 2022–23 campaign, earning praise from manager David Unsworth after being the victorious penalty shoot-out goalkeeper in an FA Trophy victory over Peterborough Sports.[55]

Port Vale

On 29 June 2023, Port Vale announced that Leutwiler had signed a one-year contract with the club to start on 1 July.[56] Manager Andy Crosby said that "we will be using his knowledge and personality to enhance our group", whilst director of football David Flitcroft said that "we want drivers of standards and performance and that is one of Jayson's biggest attributes".[57][56]

International career

Leutwiler represented Switzerland up to under-20 level. In October 2016, the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) confirmed that he would take part in a Canadian camp.[58][59] He made his debut for Canada as a half-time substitute against South Korea on 11 November 2016.[43] His second cap came in a 1–1 draw in Scotland on 22 March 2017, where he was again a half-time substitute.[60] He played the full ninety minutes of his third and final cap, a 2–0 win over Jamaica on 2 September.[61] Leutwiler was named to Canada's 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup by Octavio Zambrano, and to the 2019 and 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup squads by John Herdman.[62][63][64]

Style of play

Leutwiller is an all-round goalkeeper who is able to command his penalty area and collect crosses.[45]

Career statistics

Club statistics

As of match played 5 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Yverdon Sport (loan) 2009–10[8] Swiss Challenge League 30000—00300
Wohlen (loan) 2010–11[8] Swiss Challenge League 15010—00160
Middlesbrough 2012–13[65] Championship 0000100010
2013–14[66] Championship 3000100040
Total 3000200050
Shrewsbury Town 2014–15[67] League Two 46030401[lower-alpha 1]0540
2015–16[68] League One 29040202[lower-alpha 1]0370
2016–17[33] League One 43030201[lower-alpha 1]0490
Total 118010080401400
Blackburn Rovers 2017–18[69] League One 1040000050
2018–19[70] Championship 5000000050
2019–20[39] Championship 0010200030
Total 60502000130
Fleetwood Town 2020–21[47] League One 16010001[lower-alpha 1]0180
Huddersfield Town 2020–21[47] Championship 0000000000
Oldham Athletic 2021–22[71] League Two 22020104[lower-alpha 1]0290
2022–23[8] National League 0010001[lower-alpha 2]020
Total 220101050310
Port Vale 2023–24[53] League One 0000004[lower-alpha 1]040
Career total 21002001301402570
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

International statistics

Canada national team[3]
YearAppsGoals
201610
201720
Total30

Honours

Shrewsbury Town

Blackburn Rovers

References

  1. ↑ "40-Player National Team Roster: 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup: Canada" (PDF). CONCACAF. p. 2. Retrieved 20 May 2019 – via Bernews.
  2. 1 2 Jayson Leutwiler at Soccerbase
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jayson Leutwiler at the Canadian Soccer Association
  4. ↑ "Jayson Moves On". www.shrewsburytown.com. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  5. 1 2 Fragniere, Marc (19 August 2013). "Destin particulier pour un gardien neuchâtelois". 20 minutes (in French). Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  6. ↑ Hillback, Ryan (3 June 2016). "Shrewsbury's Swiss superstar looks set to stay". Shropshire Live. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "Thun vs. Yverdon Sport - 26 July 2009 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jayson Leutwiler at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  9. ↑ FC Basel 1893 (2011). "Torhüter Leutwiler zurück zur FCB-U21" (in German). FC Basel 1893. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ↑ Bailey, Graeme (13 August 2012). "Boro seal keeper deal". Sky Sports. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  11. ↑ Steel, Adam (18 July 2012). "Boro run the rule over trialists in Synners friendly". TeessideLive. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  12. ↑ "Mowbray ponders over Swiss keeper". www.efl.com. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "Preston 1–3 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  14. ↑ Glanville, Brian (11 August 2013). "Charlton 0 Middlesbrough 1: Saviour Steele". The Times. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  15. ↑ "Middlesbrough 1–1 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "Leeds 1–2 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "Middlesbrough release eight". efl.com. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "Shrewsbury: Jayson Leutwiler signs following Middlesbrough exit". BBC Sport. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  19. ↑ "Swiss Keeper Joins Town". www.shrewsburytown.com. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  20. ↑ "10 YEARS: Jayson Leutwiler". www.shrewsburytown.com. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  21. ↑ "League Cup Draw: Shrewsbury face Chelsea, Liverpool v Swansea". BBC Sport. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  22. ↑ "Games played by Jayson Leutwiler in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  23. ↑ Hillback, Ryan (20 March 2015). "Match Preview: Tranmere V Shrewsbury". Shropshire Live. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  24. ↑ "Paz Meets Europe's No.1 Keeper!". Match of the Day. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  25. ↑ "Micky Mellon tells Town to finish the job". Shropshire Star. 18 April 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  26. ↑ Eley, James (20 April 2015). "Jayson Happy With Record And First Man Of The Match - News - Shrewsbury Town". www.shrewsburytown.com. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  27. ↑ "Cheltenham Town 0–1 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  28. ↑ "Shrewsbury Town: Mark Halstead hopes for run as first team keeper". BBC Sport. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  29. ↑ "Jayson Leutwiler: Shrewsbury keeper suffers bad facial injury". BBC Sport. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  30. ↑ "Burton Albion 1-2 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  31. ↑ "Shrewsbury Town sign AJ Leitch-Smith and Ryan McGivern from Port Vale". BBC Sport. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  32. ↑ Cox, Lewis (28 July 2017). "Paul Hurst: No offers yet for Jayson Leutwiler". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  33. 1 2 "Games played by Jayson Leutwiler in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  34. ↑ "Rovers sign Shrews stopper". Blackburn Rovers FC. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  35. ↑ Sharpe, Rich (5 November 2017). "Blackburn Rovers 3 Barnet 1: PLAYER RATINGS". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  36. ↑ "Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Hull City: Ola Aina header wins FA Cup third-round clash". Sky Sports. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  37. ↑ Sharpe, Rich (28 April 2018). "Charlton Athletic 1 Blackburn Rovers 0: MATCH REPORT". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  38. ↑ Sharpe, Rich (7 May 2019). "Raya still Rovers' No.1 as Mowbray explains Leutwiler run". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  39. 1 2 "Games played by Jayson Leutwiler in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  40. ↑ "Jayson Leutwiler joins the Cod Army". www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  41. ↑ Tinniswood, Steve (11 September 2020). "Jayson Leutwiler joins Fleetwood following Rovers release". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  42. ↑ "Leutwiler departs Fleetwood Town". www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  43. 1 2 Tomlinson, Adam (1 February 2021). "JAYSON LEUTWILER: HIS CAREER SO FAR". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  44. ↑ Rooney, Will (13 February 2021). "Joey Barton lifts lid on sudden departure from Portsmouth's League One rivals Fleetwood". The News. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  45. 1 2 3 Frost, Brady (9 February 2021). "Jayson Leutwiler: "He's an all rounder, nothing spectacular and nothing crazy"". AND HE TAKES THAT CHANCE. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  46. ↑ Threlfall-Sykes, David (1 February 2021). "SIGNING: JAYSON LEUTWILER JOINS THE TERRIERS". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  47. 1 2 3 "Games played by Jayson Leutwiler in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  48. ↑ "Shot-Stopper Signs For Latics". www.oldhamathletic.co.uk. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  49. ↑ Lord, Adam (25 June 2021). "'I fit that role': What new goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler hopes to bring to Latics". The Oldham Times. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  50. ↑ "UPDATE: Jayson Leutwiler". www.oldhamathletic.co.uk. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  51. ↑ "First Team Player Update". oldhamathletic.co.uk. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  52. ↑ Geldard, Suzanne (16 November 2022). "Toe woe and World Cup blow for Latics duo". The Oldham Times. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  53. 1 2 "Games played by Jayson Leutwiler in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  54. ↑ Geldard, Suzanne (29 June 2023). "Latics goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler joins League One Port Vale". The Oldham Times. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  55. ↑ Geldard, Suzanne (20 December 2022). "Unsworth's praise for penalty shoot-out hero Leutwiler". The Oldham Times. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  56. 1 2 "Jayson Leutwiler Joins the Valiants". www.port-vale.co.uk. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  57. ↑ "Port Vale sign Oldham goalkeeper Leutwiler". BBC Sport. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  58. ↑ Canada Soccer [@CanadaSoccerEN] (26 October 2016). "Jayson Leutwiler, a @shrewsweb goalkeeper, will be part of #CANMNT squad in Korea" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  59. ↑ "International Call Ups". Shrewsweb. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  60. ↑ McLauchlin, Brian (22 March 2017). "Scotland 1–1 Canada". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  61. ↑ Davidson, Neil (2 September 2017). "Canada beats Jamaica in friendly marred by Alphonso Davies' red card". thestar.com. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  62. ↑ "Canada selects dynamic squad for 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup". canadasoccer.com. Canada Soccer. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  63. ↑ "Together We Rise: Canada Soccer announces squad for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup". 30 May 2019. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  64. ↑ "Canada Soccer announces 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup roster – Canada Soccer". Canada Soccer. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  65. ↑ "Games played by Jayson Leutwiler in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  66. ↑ "Games played by Jayson Leutwiler in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  67. ↑ "Games played by Jayson Leutwiler in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  68. ↑ "Games played by Jayson Leutwiler in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  69. ↑ "Games played by Jayson Leutwiler in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  70. ↑ "Games played by Jayson Leutwiler in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  71. ↑ "Games played by Jayson Leutwiler in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
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