David Robert Bates (born 5 October 1996) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a defender for Belgian club Standard Liège.

Bates has previously played for Raith Rovers, East Stirlingshire, Brechin City, Rangers, Hamburg, Cercle Brugge, Sheffield Wednesday, Aberdeen and Mechelen.

He was first included in a matchday squad on 21 September 2013, remaining an unused substitute in their 4–2 Scottish Championship home win over Alloa Athletic.

[5] He made 17 appearances in all for the Shire; in his last one he headed the first goal of his career as they finished the season with a 5–1 loss to Albion Rovers at Ochilview Park.

[6] On 25 July 2015, Bates made his first appearance for Raith, playing the entirety of a 1–0 win at Cowdenbeath in the first round of the Challenge Cup.

[18] After starting only one match in the Owls' 1-0 EFL Cup victory over Rotherham United, he suffered a hip flexor injury that ruled him out for an extended period.