Kiban Rai

Last updated

Kiban Rai
Kiban-Rai-Newport-County-1024x576.jpg
Rai after scoring against Brentford in the EFL Cup in 2023
Personal information
Full name Kiban Hang Rai [1]
Date of birth (2004-10-24) 24 October 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth Brecon, Wales
Height 5’11 [2]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Aldershot Town
Number 18
Youth career
2021–2023 Newport County
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2023–2025 Newport County 21 (0)
2025 → Merthyr Town (loan) 4 (1)
2025– Aldershot Town 7 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 06:41, 21 September 2025 (UTC)

Kiban Hang Rai (born 24 October 2004) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League club Aldershot Town.

Contents

Career

Newport County

Rai joined the youth academy of Newport County at Under 15 level. [3] He made his senior debut for Newport in the 3–1 EFL League Two away defeat to Salford City at Moor Lane on 5 March 2023 as a second-half substitute for Nathan Moriah-Welsh. [4] [5] In June 2023 Rai signed his first professional contract with Newport County [6] On 29 August 2023 Rai scored his first goal for Newport, the 96th minute equaliser in the EFL Cup 1-1 draw against Brentford of the Premier League, which Brentford won on penalties. [7]

On 30 January 2025 Rai joined Southern League club Merthyr Town on loan for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. [8] He was released by Newport County at the end of the 2024-25 season. [9]

Aldershot Town

On 25 June 2025, Rai agreed to join National League side Aldershot Town. [10]

Career statistics

As of end of 2024–25 season
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup League Cup OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Newport County 2022–23 [11] League Two 4000000040
2023–24 [12] League Two14030112 [a] 0201
2024–25 [13] League Two4000101 [a] 060
Total220302130301
Merthyr Town (loan) 2024–25 [14] Southern League Premier Division South 4100—0041
Career total261302130342
  1. 1 2 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Personal life

Rai was born in Brecon, Wales, and he also qualifies to represent Nepal through his parents. [15] [16] His father was a British Army Gurkha and in 2023 Kiban Rai became the first player of Nepalese descent to sign a professional contract in the Premier League or EFL when he joined Newport County. [17]

Style of play

Rai operates as a striker or attacking midfielder. [18] He is known for his creativity and technical ability. [3]

Honours

Merthyr Town

References

  1. ↑ "Squad List 2024/25 & U21 Registered Contract Players" (PDF). English Football League. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  2. ↑ Newport County profile
  3. 1 2 "Academy | Nine new scholars confirmed for 2021/22 season". www.newport-county.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Salford come from behind to beat Newport". BBC Sport. 4 March 2023. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "Surprise visits and high standards – County's top duo aim to use academy talent". South Wales Argus. 10 March 2023. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  6. ↑ "Kiban Rai signs first professional contract". www.newport-county.co.uk.
  7. ↑ Rai first Newport goal
  8. ↑ Rai Merthyr loab
  9. ↑ Rai released by Newport
  10. ↑ "NEW SIGNING: Kiban Rai". www.theshots.co.uk. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "Games played by Kiban Rai in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  12. ↑ "Games played by Kiban Rai in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "Games played by Kiban Rai in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  14. ↑ "Kiban Rai | Player Profile - Aylesbury United Archive". www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "Rai debut interview". 16 March 2023. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  16. ↑ "Newport County: Kiban Rai becomes first Nepalese player in EFL". DasFootball. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  17. ↑ "Gurkha's son aims to inspire – and play for Wales". BBC Sport. 30 June 2023.
  18. ↑ "Newport County hope academy talent follows Kiban Rai lead". southwalesargus.co.uk. 10 March 2023. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.