Profile
Season stats
Full career & schedule →Domestic-league season · Sunderland.
Injury-affected season
Missed 7 of Sunderland's ~38 games this season through 4 injury absences and 3 suspensions (groin, muscle). He still appeared 29 times — a solid return given how little of the season he was available. His rating is judged mainly on the games he was fit to play.
Performance data · by competition
| Competition | Apps | G | A | Min | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Premier League | 29 | 2 | 0 | 2148 | 6.83 |
 FA Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 139 | 6.3 |
Scout report
D. Ballard is a 26-year-old central defender at Sunderland, rated 78.1 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 141st of 376 on scout potential in the Premier League. In his prime years, he has been a regular starter this season (77% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.23 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Ballard.
Judged on this season alone, Ballard graded 41 — a strong campaign that ranks top 30% of the 64 centre-backs in the Premier League, on 7 clean sheets and 3.226 defensive actions per 90.
Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 14 → 41). Across the 6 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.
On long-term talent our Rating reads 78, top 29% of the 64 centre-backs in the Premier League. At 26 Ballard is in his prime years, and a market index of 93.7 reflects that trajectory.
Read the appearance count in context: Ballard missed 4 games through injury and 3 suspensions (groin, muscle) out of roughly 38 this season. The 29 he did play is a solid return on the time he was fit, and his ratings are weighted toward those games rather than the ones he sat out injured.
Ballard is operating at his career peak — the 2025/26 level is the level.
Output in context · Sunderland finished 7th of 20 · a mid-table side
3.23 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 7 clean sheets across 29 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 2 goals and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.
Strengths
- Availability. On the pitch for 77% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
- Pedigree. Performing in a top-tier setting (team strength 96.8/100).
Watch points
- Few red flags. No obvious weaknesses in the current-season profile — consistency is the next test.
Outlook
With a Rating of 78.1, Ballard carries the 18th-highest potential of the centre-backs in the Premier League (top 29%). Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3.23 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). In the prime window — at or near peak market value, so the next two seasons are the ones to cash in or build around.
Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.
Transfer news
No transfer news found for this player.
