M. Smith

Project player

Wigan · 25 yrs

43.7

Profile

Full nameMatthew Gerrard Smith

PositionDefensive midfielder

NationalityEngland

Age25

Date of birth5 Oct 2000

BirthplaceHarlow

Height176 cm

Shirt number#17

ClubWigan

More about M. Smith →

Defensive midfielder

Season stats

Full career & schedule →

Appearances

Goals

Assists

2667

Minutes

Domestic-league season · Wigan.

Performance data · by competition

Competition	Apps	G	A	Min	Match
League One	37	1	2	2667	6.73
FA Cup	4	0	0	150	6.95
League Cup	2	0	0	95	6.9

Career

Full career & schedule →

FA Cup×2Premier League 2×2

Smith's current-season form is up 44% on last season (Season 18→26), while his Rating held around 44. That makes this his strongest season for form to date.

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Wigan · 16th	37	1	2	6.73	44	26
2024/25	Wigan · 15th	19	1	3	6.95	43	18
2023/24	Wigan · 12th	28	1	3	6.84	48	21
2021/22	DoncasterLoan · 22nd	43	0	1	6.72	49	25
2020/21	CharltonLoan	8	0	0	6.51	—	—
2020/21	Swindon TownLoan · 23rd	32	2	0	6.51	45	12

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 7 youth-team spells in the full career.

Scout report

Project playerDefensive midfielder

M. Smith is a 25-year-old defensive midfielder at Wigan, rated 43.7 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 145th of 481 on scout potential in the League One. In his prime years, he has been a regular starter this season (64.4% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.31 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Smith.

Judged on this season alone, Smith graded 26 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 34th of 63 of the 63 defensive midfielders in the League One, on 1 goal, 2 assists and 3.307 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 18 → 26). Across the 5 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 44, top 40% of the 63 defensive midfielders in the League One. At 25 Smith is in his prime years, and a market index of 9.8 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Smith is operating at his career peak — the 2025/26 level is the level.

Peak: 2025/26Holding levelRemarkably consistent

Current potentialTop 40% defensive midfielders · League One Current season34th of 63 defensive midfielders · League One34th-best defensive midfielder in the League One145th in the League One · potential25th-highest potential defensive midfielder in the League One

43.7

Ratingi

25th of 63 defensive midfielders

25.5

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

64.4%

Minutes

a regular starter

3.31

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Wigan finished 16th of 24 · a mid-table side

3.31

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.31 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 8 clean sheets across 37 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 2 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 64.4% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.

Watch points

Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 43.7, Smith carries the 25th-highest potential of the defensive midfielders in the League One (top 40%). Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3.31 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %64.4%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900.034

Assists / 900.067

Goal contribution / 900.101

Defensive actions / 903.307

Player flow

Goal involvements3

Shot conversion %20

Shot accuracy %55.6

Pass accuracy %83

Dribble success %65.2

Cards / 900.236

Foul involvement / 902.16

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~10), then tapers with age. At 25, Smith sits on 9.8, at or near its peak. The blue line is Smith's projected Rating — 43.7 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among defensive midfielders in the League One with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Shots on target5

Shots9

Passing

Assists2

Pass accuracy83%

Possession

Successful dribbles15

Dribble success65.2%

Fouls won19

Defending

Tackles56

Interceptions30

Blocks12

Fouls committed45

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards6

Red cards1

Transfer history

Wigan2023/24 – nowFree

Arsenaluntil 2023/24

AArsenal U232022/23 – 2023/24

Doncaster(on loan)2021/22 – 2022/23

Arsenaluntil 2021/22

Charlton(on loan)2020/21 – 2021/22

Swindon Town(on loan)2020/21 – 2020/21

Arsenaluntil 2020/21

About M. Smith

Matthew Gerrard Smith is a 25-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for Wigan, born on October 5, 2000 in Harlow, standing 176 cm tall. He is from England. Wigan currently sit 16th of 24 in the League One.

This season

In the current season, M. Smith has made 37 appearances with 1 goal and 2 assists across 2,667 minutes, averaging a 6.68 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 6 yellow cards. His season has spanned the League One, the FA Cup and the League Cup.

When M. Smith plays, Wigan's record this season is 12W-12D-17L — and his match ratings average 6.81 at home against 6.68 on the road.

Recent matches

May 2, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Stevenage (90 minutes, 6.9 rating)
April 25, 2026: 0-1 loss at home vs AFC Wimbledon (90 minutes, 6.7 rating)
April 19, 2026: 0-0 draw away at Port Vale (74 minutes, 6.3 rating)
April 14, 2026: 3-0 win at home vs Rotherham (90 minutes, 1 assist, 6.9 rating)
April 11, 2026: 2-1 win at home vs Mansfield Town (82 minutes, 6.3 rating)
April 6, 2026: 3-1 win away at Northampton (90 minutes, 1 assist, 7.2 rating)
April 2, 2026: 0-0 draw at home vs Leyton Orient (87 minutes, 6.3 rating)
March 28, 2026: 0-3 loss away at Reading (45 minutes, 6.5 rating)
March 21, 2026: 2-0 win at home vs Exeter City (45 minutes, 7 rating)
March 17, 2026: 1-1 draw away at Barnsley (13 minutes, 6.7 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates M. Smith at 43.7 with a Season form score of 25.5, ranking 145th of 481 defensive midfielders in the League One. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 4 career titles — among them the FA Cup and the Premier League 2. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 9 recorded seasons, M. Smith has totalled 249 club appearances with 15 goals and 9 assists for 7 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2021/22, with 43 appearances for Doncaster.

M. Smith's career has also included time at Arsenal, AArsenal U23, Doncaster, Charlton and Swindon Town.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Wigan finished 16th of 24 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points