Ever since he joined the club in the summer of 2022, Ballard has been a fan favourite of Sunderland fans and a key member of the squad.
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He joined the Black Cats from Arsenal after coming through the Gunners’ academy, following a series of loans to various EFL clubs, including Swindon Town, Blackpool and Millwall.
It was at Millwall that he impressed in the Championship, starting 30 matches for the Lions, where he showed why he spent so long with a top team like Arsenal.
Winning 7.2 duels per match and committing zero errors that led to shots or goals, he was a solid wall at the back for the club as they finished an impressive ninth place in the league.
It was these performances that convinced Sunderland to shell out a reported £2 million for the centre-half. While his first season was blighted by a broken foot that kept him out of the side, this current campaign is where the former Arsenal defender has truly shone.
Whether it be under Tony Mowbray or Beale, Ballard has been ever present at the back throughout. He has started 28 league games so far, helping to keep seven clean sheets for his side.
The stats also show how progressive he can be at the back, with his passing accuracy and tendency to pass forward into the opposition’s half giving a new angle for Sunderland to create chances.
His touches per game stats (74.4) also show how involved he is in the matches, and how crucial he is to the side.
However, he still have things to work on his game, with him currently only sitting eighth on the club’s list of the most successful tackles committed per game.
| Daniel Balland statistics – SofaScore | |
| Matches | 28 |
| Minutes per game | 89 |
| Touches per game | 74.4 |
| Tackles per game | 1.3 |
| Dribbled past per game | 0.2 |
| Accurate pass per game | 56.2 |
| Passes in opposition half | 13.3 |
It is not only defensively that he has impressed, but also in attack. Ballard already has three goals this season, and is a constant threat from set pieces, winning 64% of his aerial duels.
He has drawn comparisons to Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, which could give an indication of the kind of fee the defender could command when he does leave the club.
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