DANIEL BALLARD
Defender · Sunderland · Premier League
“A pressing defender who hunts the ball with relentless intensity.”
GoalPost verdict
GoalPost score (GPS)
GoalPost read
D. Ballard rates good value: a centre back whose output stays steady across seasons and stands out for his position, even as his form trends down from the peak he found at Sunderland. He remains in his prime.
GoalPost value
What GoalPost values him at
range €21.1M – €23M
What he’s worth on the pitch today — our number, not the market’s.
GPS / value trend
Daily snapshots only. Sparse history stays hidden rather than drawing a flat line.
Scouting report
Strengths
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Watch-outs
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Analysis overview
Ballard operates as a centre-back who leads from the front, initiating aggressive pressing sequences rather than sitting deep. He's an active, ball-hunting defender who closes space quickly and uses his frame to impose himself on opponents. His game revolves around winning possession high and forcing errors through sustained pressure.
Playing style
Shot profile
Shots / 90
0.55
SoT / 90
0.00
Accuracy
0%
Conversion
0%
Club football this season: 3 shots in 6 matches (488 min).
Goal Threat coverage is not available for this player yet, so this card shows only raw shooting rates.
Last 10 matches · shots
3 shots · 0 goals
Player intelligence
Workrate
The unglamorous work: tackles, interceptions, duels, passing, fouls won, minutes and discipline, against his position
Ball progression
Estimated progressive passes and carries, against his position
Team impact
Awaiting measured on-pitch impact sample
Performance overview
2026/27 season by competition
| Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 UEFA Europa League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 6.95 |
 Premier League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 450 | 6.92 |
| Total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 488 | 6.92 |
Form (last 7 matches)
Each dot is one match rating.
Advanced performance
Goals
0.00
per 90
Assists
0.00
per 90
Shots
0.55
per 90
Shots on target
0.00
per 90
Conversion
0%
goals per shot
Dribbles
0.18
per 90 · 50% completed
Key passes
0.37
per 90
Pass accuracy
83%
Fouls won
1.48
per 90
Tackles + interceptions
2.58
per 90
Match-by-match breakdown
| Date | Opponent | Result | G | A | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 |  Georgia | Nations League | W0-1 | 95 | 0 | 0 | 6.3 |
| Sep 20 |  Manchester City | EPL | L5-3 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 8.1 |
| Sep 16 |  AZ Alkmaar | UEL | W1-0 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 6.4 |
| Sep 12 |  Arsenal | EPL | L0-2 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 6.7 |
| Sep 5 |  Brentford | EPL | D1-1 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 7.8 |
| Aug 30 |  Fulham | EPL | W1-0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 7.7 |
Minutes played
Total minutes
Premier League450 (92%)UEFA Europa League38 (8%)Career timeline
Career stats by season
| Season | Club | Apps | G | A | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 |  Sunderland | Premier League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 6.92 |
| 2025/26 | Sunderland | Premier League | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0.06 | 6.80 |
| 2024/25 | Sunderland | Championship | 23 | 3 | 1 | 0.17 | 7.04 |
| 2023/24 | Sunderland | Championship | 44 | 3 | 0 | 0.07 | 7.09 |
| 2022/23 | Sunderland | Championship | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0.05 | 6.99 |
| 2021/22 |  Millwall | Championship | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0.03 | 6.96 |
| 2020/21 |  Blackpool | League One | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0.10 | 7.09 |
| 2019/20 |  Swindon Town | League Cup | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0.33 | 6.70 |
Career highlights
FA Cup
2019/2020
Premier League 2
2017/2018
Spell detail
Apps
126
Goals
8
Assists
2
Minutes
10,007
By season
| 2026/27 | Premier League | 6 app | 0 g | 6.92 |
| 2025/26 | Premier League | 31 app | 2 g | 6.80 |
| 2024/25 | Championship | 23 app | 3 g | 7.04 |
| 2023/24 | Championship | 44 app | 3 g | 7.09 |
| 2022/23 | Championship | 22 app | 0 g | 6.99 |
Goals by season
8 goals in the spell
International career
Northern Ireland
National-team finishes
No national-team finishes on record.