Jayson Leutwiler

Switzerland

Leutwiler started his children's football with the local club in Cornaux. In 2002, he moved to the youth system of Neuchâtel Xamax and stayed there until 2005.

Playing in the U-18 and U-21 teams, Leutwiler came through the ranks at FC Basel, but because Yann Sommer was first choice goalkeeper in front of him, Leutwiler was sent on loan at FC Concordia Basel in 2007, where he was more likely to get first-team football. At just 18 years of age he had much improving to do and his season-long loan spell at Concordia would have helped him mature as a footballer. However, after only 4 games FC Basel cancelled the loan and took Leutwiler back as their first team third-choice goalkeeper because the transfer of Riccardo Meili fell through.

After two further seasons on the bench with the Basel first team squad and a number of appearances in the reserve team, Leutwiler was loaned out to Yverdon-Sport for the season 2009/10. The following season, he was loaned to FC Wohlen, but here he was unable to hold the first goalkeeper position, therefore he returned to Basel. During the second half of the 2010/11 and the first half of the season 2011/12 he played for the Basel U-21 team again. On 27 January 2012 it was announced that he would be loaned out to FC Schaffhausen until the end of the season.

Middlesbrough

On 14 August 2012 it was announced that Leutwiler joined Middlesbrough. He made his debut in a 3–1 win away at Preston North End in the League Cup third round on 25 September. It was his only appearance of the season; in addition he was an unused substitute for 42 Championship matches, 3 FA Cup games and 2 League Cup fixtures.

He made his league debut for the club on 10 August 2013, in a 1–0 win over Charlton Athletic at The Valley, replacing Jason Steele for the last 12 minutes shortly after Lukas Jutkiewicz had scored the only goal of the game. A week later, with Steele still injured, Leutwiler made his first league start at home against Blackpool. He conceded after 83 minutes from Chris Basham but Marvin Emnes scored an equaliser in added time. 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 1–2 defeat.

Shrewsbury Town

Following his close season release from Middlesbrough, Leutwiler became the eighth summer signing to join Shrewsbury Town in League Two on a two-year deal on 11 June 2014. 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 home tie with Chelsea.

It was documented in February 2015 that Leutwiler had kept more clean sheets that season than any goalkeeper in Europe, 20 in 39 matches. 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, before clinching promotion to League One the following weekend with a 1–0 away victory at Cheltenham Town.

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. 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. He returned to the side for an away match at Burton Albion, as Shrewsbury beat the league leaders 2–1.

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.

Blackburn Rovers

On 2 August 2017, Blackburn Rovers announced the signing of Leutwiler on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

International career

Leutwiler played twice for the Swiss U-16 team, his debut being in the 2–1 home win against the Czech Republic U-16 team on 26 April 2005. He also played for the Switzerland U-18 team on 18 October 2006 in the 4–5 away defeat against Slovakia U-18. Leutwiler was nominated for the Swiss national U-20 squad four times, playing three times. He gave his debut on 10 September 2008 in the 5–2 home win against Italy U-20 in the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como. His last appearance was against the same opposition on 20 May 2010 as the Swiss lost 4–1. He was also called up for the Swiss U-21 team, but remained on the bench in all three occasions.

In August 2015, it was revealed that Leutwiller holds Canadian citizenship and a passport and would be interested in playing for Canada should the Canadian Soccer Association approach him. In October 2016, The CSA confirmed Leutwiler would be taking part in a Canadian camp. He made his debut as a half-time substitute against South Korea on 11 November 2016. Leutwiler was named to Canada's 40-man provisional team for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup on 6 June 2017. On 27 June he was named to the final 23-man squad.

Career statistics

Titles and honours

Basel

Shrewsbury Town