Leif Davis

Leif Davis (born 31 December 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays for club Ipswich Town as a left back. He can also play as a centre back. Davis is known for his crossing and ability to provide assists.

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, he spent time in the youth systems at Wallsend Boys Club and Morecambe before joining Leeds United in 2018. He helped Leeds win promotion to the Premier League in 2020. He spent a loan spell at AFC Bournemouth during the 2021–22 season, where he also won promotion to the Premier League. In 2022, he signed for Ipswich Town, helping Ipswich win promotion to the EFL Championship in his first season at the club.

Early career
Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, he started his career at English youth football club Wallsend Boys Club in Wallsend, North Tyneside.

On 27 June 2016, Davis joined Morecambe where he would come through the ranks of the academy.

Leeds United
On 4 July 2018, Davis joined EFL Championship side Leeds United under head coach Marcelo Bielsa for an undisclosed fee, where he initially linked up with the Leeds academy.

After impressing for Leeds' Under 23s, Davis was promoted to the first team and was named as an unused substitute on several occasions by head coach Bielsa before making his debut for the club on 23 December 2018, when he started in a 3–2 win against Aston Villa at Villa Park after Barry Douglas fell ill before kickoff.

With Davis potentially set for a spell in the side, after injuries to left backs Barry Douglas and Ezgjan Alioski, Davis himself was ruled out for the remainder of the season including Leeds' playoff campaign after knee surgery.

Davis was regularly named as an unused substitute on the bench for the first team squad in the Championship, but still featured regularly for Carlos Corberán's Leeds United under 23s side over the course the 2018–19 season, that won the PDL Northern League 2018–19 season and became the national Professional Development League champions by beating Birmingham City in the final.

After the English professional football season was paused in March 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, the season was resumed during June, where Davis earned promotion with Leeds to the Premier League and also become the EFL Championship Champions for the 2019–20 season in July after the successful resumption of the season.

His first start of the 2020–21 season came on 16 September 2020 in Leeds' 1–1 draw against Hull City in the EFL Cup. Hull went on to win 9–8 on penalties. Davis made his Premier League debut for Leeds, as a second-half substitute in Leeds' 1–1 draw with Manchester City on 3 October 2020.

AFC Bournemouth (loan)
On 27 July 2021, Davis joined Championship side AFC Bournemouth on a season-long loan deal. He made his debut for the club coming on as a late sub in the Cherries 2–1 win over Nottingham Forest. Davis then made his first start for Bournemouth in an unfamiliar right wing role, in a 0–2 away win at Birmingham City.

Ipswich Town
On 25 July 2022, Davis joined Ipswich Town on a three-year contract for a seven-figure fee. He made his debut five days later on the opening day of the 2022–23 season in a 1–1 draw against Bolton Wanderers at Portman Road. He quickly established himself as the first choice left-back at Ipswich. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–2 away defeat against Oxford United on 21 January 2023. Davis was an integral member of the team during the 2022–23 season at Ipswich, making 46 appearances across all competitions, scoring 3 league goals and getting 14 league assists in total, and helping the club win promotion from EFL League One following a second-placed league finish. His form throughout the season earned him a place in both the EFL League One Team of the Season and the PFA League One Team of the Season.

Style of play
Davis predominantly plays as a left back. He was converted by then Leeds Under 23 boss Carlos Corberán to also play as a centre back. Davis describes his style as a "a modern-day, attacking left-back".

Honours
Leeds United
 * EFL Championship: 2019–20

AFC Bournemouth
 * EFL Championship runner-up: 2021–22

Ipswich Town
 * EFL League One runner-up: 2022–23
 * EFL Championship runner-up: 2023–24

Individual
 * EFL League One Team of the Season: 2022–23
 * PFA Team of the Year: 2022–23 League One
 * EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2023–24
 * Ipswich Town Players’ Player of the Year: 2023–24