Kevin Zefi

Kevin Zefi

Personal information
Date of birth	(2005-02-11) 11 February 2005 (age 20)
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) [1]
Position(s)	Winger
Youth career
0000–2019	St. Kevin's Boys
2019–2021	Shamrock Rovers
2021–2024	Inter Milan
2024–2025	Roma
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020	Shamrock Rovers II	11	(2)
International career‡
2019–2020	Republic of Ireland U15	4	(2)
2021–2022	Republic of Ireland U17	6	(1)
2021–2023	Republic of Ireland U19	11	(1)
2024	Republic of Ireland U21	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 July 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 21:10, 17 November 2024 (UTC)

Kevin Zefi (born 11 February 2005) is an Irish professional footballer who last played as a winger for the under-19 side of Serie A club Roma. ^[1] Born in Ireland, he represented that nation at youth international levels but in 2025 switched international allegiance to Albania.

Early and personal life

Zefi was born in Dublin and grew up in the Clonsilla area. ^[2] He attended Luttrellstown Community College. ^[2] He is of Albanian descent. ^[3]

Club career

Zefi began his career with Shamrock Rovers. In 2020 he was linked with a transfer away from the club, with Italian club Inter Milan and Dutch club PSV said to be interested. ^{[4] [5]}

He began his senior career with Shamrock Rovers II in the League of Ireland First Division in the 2020 season, ^[6] becoming the youngest ever scorer in the League of Ireland, at the age of 15 years 206 days. ^{[7] [8]} He had also been Shamrock Rovers II's youngest ever player, until that record was beaten by 14-year-old Sam Curtis in October 2020. ^[9]

He moved to Italian club Inter Milan in August 2021. ^{[10] [11]} In December 2021 he scored a hat-trick for Inter's youth team. ^{[12] [13]}

In February 2022 he spoke positively about his move to Italy, encouraging other young Irish players to do the same. ^[14]

In January 2024, Zefi joined fellow Italian club Roma on a permanent deal on a 3 year contract. ^{[15] [16]}

In July 2025, Zefi left Roma and became a free agent, having stated that he suffered repeated racist abuse in Italy due to his Irish-Albanian heritage, which impacted his prospects at the club. ^{[17] [18]}

On 15 July 2025, Zefi went on trial with League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers, scoring for them in a friendly against EFL League One club Mansfield Town. ^[19]

International career

Republic of Ireland

Zefi has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-15, under-17 and under-19 level. ^{[1] [20]} On 7 November 2024, he received a call-up to the national under-21 team for the friendly matches against Sweden. ^[21] His debut with Republic of Ireland U21 came ten days later in the second friendly match against Sweden after coming on as a substitute in the 71st minute in place of Jad Hakiki. ^[22]

Albania

On 16 March 2025, Zefi confirmed that he received a call-up from Albania national under-21 team for the friendly matches against Greece and Luxembourg, ^[23] but was unable to join the national team due to injury. ^[24]

References

1. Kevin Zefi at WorldFootball.net
2. "Academy Stars". Shamrock Rovers FC.
3. Fallon, John (25 January 2022). "Teenage kicks: The latest generation of Irish gems providing hope for our football future". Irish Examiner.
4. "Ireland underage and Shamrock Rovers star lined up for sensational Inter Milan move". Extra.ie. 26 July 2020.
5. O'Hehir, Paul (6 March 2020). "Rovers starlet Zefi could be lured abroad by Dutch side PSV Eindhoven". DublinLive.
6. Kevin Zefi at Soccerway
7. Moore, Paul. "WATCH: 15-year-old Kevin Zefi of Shamrock Rovers is now the youngest scorer in LOI history". Balls.ie.
8. Team, The42 (4 September 2020). "15-year-old on target in Shamrock Rovers II loss". The42.
9. "Shamrock Rovers give first start to 14-year-old Sam Curtis in First Division". ExtraTime.ie.
10. Rowan, Paul. "Kevin Zefi's move to Inter Milan is a big moment for the teenager and Irish game as a whole" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
11. Taylor, Mark (7 September 2021). "Kevin Zefi - Ireland wonderkid tipped for stardom after Inter Milan transfer". mirror.
12. O'Donoghue, Conor. "Watch: 16-year-old Dubliner Kevin Zefi net three for Inter Milan". The Irish Post.
13. Connaughton, Gary. "Watch: Ireland's Kevin Zefi Nets Eye-Catching Hat-Trick For Inter Milan". Balls.ie.
14. "'I would advise people to go' - Kevin Zefi blazing a trail to Italy for Irish kids to follow in move to Inter Milan". independent.
15. Canicchio, Lorenzo (13 January 2024). "Roma, ecco l'ufficialità. Dall'Inter arriva Kevin Zefi". Gazzetta Regionale (in Italian). Retrieved 13 January 2024.
16. Cooney, Gavin (13 January 2024). "Kevin Zefi swaps Inter Milan for Roma, Rovers confirm return of Trevor Clarke". The 42. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
17. Panorama Sport (18 September 2025). "Racizmi e largoi nga Roma, sulmuesi që la Irlandën për Shqipërinë del lojtar i lirë". Panorama Sport (in Albanian). Retrieved 18 September 2025.
18. O'Toole, Fintan (17 September 2025). "Kevin Zefi speaks out on racism in Serie A after leaving Roma". SportsJOE. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
19. "Roma and Ireland star Kevin Zefi pictured playing for Sligo Rovers in pre-season friendly". www.independent.ie. 16 July 2025.
20. "Kevin Zefi brace helps Ireland U15s claim victory over England at St George's Park". independent.
21. "Jim Crawford names Under-21 squad for Sweden friendlies". www.fai.ie. 7 November 2024.
22. "REPORT | Ireland U21 3–2 Sweden U21". www.fai.ie. 17 November 2024.
23. "Miqësoret ndaj Greqisë & Luksemburgut, trajneri Bushi publikon listën" [Friendlies against Greece & Luxembourg, coach Bushi publishes the list] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Federation. 16 March 2025.
24. "Sfidat me Greqinë & Luksemburgun/ Kombëtarja U-21 vazhdon përgatitjet. Kevin Zefi largohet për arsye dëmtimi, vjen Jordi Jaku" [Challenges with Greece & Luxembourg/ The U-21 National Team continues preparations. Kevin Zefi leaves due to injury, Jordi Jaku comes in] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Federation. 19 March 2025.