Liam Kelly (footballer, born 1995)

Last updated

Liam Kelly
Liam Kelly July 2019.jpg
Personal information
Full name Liam Anthony Kelly [1]
Date of birth (1995-06-18) 18 June 1995 (age 30)
Place of birth Basingstoke, England
Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) [2]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Milton Keynes Dons
Number 6
Youth career
2004–2013 Reading
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2013–2019 Reading 82 (7)
2016 → Bath City (loan) 16 (6)
2019–2021 Feyenoord 1 (0)
2020–2021 → Oxford United (loan) 29 (0)
2021–2023 Rochdale 63 (6)
2023–2024 Crawley Town 37 (4)
2024– Milton Keynes Dons 51 (1)
International career
2013–2014 Republic of Ireland U19 4 (1)
2014 Republic of Ireland U21 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 09:01, 29 October 2025 (UTC)

Liam Anthony Kelly (born 22 November 1995) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Milton Keynes Dons. He has represented the Republic of Ireland internationally at youth levels U19 and U21.

Contents

Club career

Reading

Kelly was born and raised in Basingstoke, [3] and joined the Reading academy aged eight. [4] [5] [6] In November 2013, Kelly signed his first professional contract with Reading, [5] [7] having previously attracted attention on YouTube for scoring impressive goals. [5] He was part of the Reading team that won the 2013–14 Under-21 Premier League Cup, having started for Reading in the second leg of the final. [8] [9]

On 12 February 2016, Kelly joined Bath City on an initial one-month loan, [10] and made his debut for the club the following day by starting in a 1–1 National League South draw with Sutton United. [11] He scored the first goal of his loan spell on 5 March, with a "curled" shot into the top corner to equalise in a 1–1 draw away to Oxford City. [12] His loan at Bath was twice extended, initially for another month on 11 March, [13] before it was extended until the end of the season on 10 April 2016. [14] Kelly scored 6 times in 16 league matches for Bath, including a brace of penalties in a 3–0 win over Hayes & Yeading United in the penultimate match of the season to ensure that Bath avoided relegation, with Bath ultimately finishing 14th. [15] [16]

In May 2016, Kelly signed a two-year contract with Reading. [17] Following the appointment of Jaap Stam as Reading manager in June 2016, who favoured a possession-based style of play, Kelly began to establish himself as a regular first-team player. [18] [19] [20] He made his debut for Reading on 23 August 2016 at home to Milton Keynes Dons in the EFL Cup, though was substituted off for George Evans in the 53rd minute after suffering a head injury. [21] He made his full league debut on 22 October 2016 away to Rotherham United, though he was substituted off for tactical reasons after 29 minutes. [22] Kelly did keep his place in the Reading starting line-up for the following match, a 2–0 EFL Cup defeat to Arsenal, [23] but did not return to the starting line-up for a league match until 13 December, where he took the place of the injured Jordan Obita for a 2–0 defeat to Leeds United. [24] After starts in Reading's following two matches, and also a start in an abandoned match against Fulham, [25] [26] Kelly signed a new contract with Reading on 30 December 2016, valid until the summer of 2019. [26] He scored his first goal for Reading in a 3–2 win against Bristol City on 2 January 2017; after coming on as a substitute with Reading 2–0 down, Kelly scored a low shot in the 72nd minute before also assisting Reading's equaliser 14 minutes later with a low cross. [27] [28] He was awarded Reading's Player of the Month award for January, [29] with manager Stam having claimed Kelly's impact on the team was "like a new signing". [20] He made 28 appearances in total across the regular Championship season as Reading finished 3rd and qualified for the play-offs. [25] [30] Kelly missed the first leg of Reading's play-off semi-final fixture against Fulham through illness but came on as a half-time substitute in the second leg as Reading won 2–1 to progress to the final against Huddersfield Town. [25] [31] With the 2017 EFL Championship play-off final goalless at the end of regular time, Kelly was introduced as a substitute in the first-half of extra time; the match finished 0–0, and despite Kelly scoring in the penalty shoot-out, Reading lost 4–3 on penalties. [32]

Kelly extended his Reading contract on 6 July 2017, signing a new three-year deal. [4] [33] Kelly scored his second and third goals for the club in a 2–0 EFL Cup win over Gillingham on 8 August 2017, [34] and scored again in a 1–1 draw with Fulham on 12 August. [35] He won the club's Player of the Month award for August 2017. [36]

On 24 February 2018, Kelly scored from 25 yards to put Reading 1–0 up in an eventual 3–3 draw with Derby County - this goal won the club's Goal of the Month award for February 2018 with 91% of fan votes. [37] [38]

Feyenoord

On 8 July 2019, Kelly signed for Feyenoord on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. [39] [40] Kelly said that the decision to sign for Feyennord was "pretty easy" as he was reunited with former Reading manager Jaap Stam. [41]

Oxford United signed Kelly on a loan deal until the end of the 2019–20 season on 8 January 2020. [42] He made his debut for the club as a substitute against Blackpool on 1 February, and scored his first goal for the club in his second match with a free-kick in a 3–2 defeat to Newcastle United, having also come on as a substitute. [43] [44] He made his first start for Oxford on 11 February against Burton Albion, but was substituted after 20 minutes due to a hamstring injury. [45] Kelly did not play again before the postponement of the League One season in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and its curtailment in June, though as Oxford qualified for the League One play-offs, on 27 June 2020, it was announced that Kelly's loan was extended until 1 August to allow him to participate in them. [43] [46] [47] He played once for Oxford in the play-offs, coming on as a half-time substitute in the play-off final as Oxford were beaten 2–1 by Wycombe Wanderers. [43]

On 21 August 2020, Kelly's loan at the club was extended for another season. [48]

Rochdale

On 24 August 2021, Kelly signed a two-year contract with Rochdale. [49]

Crawley Town

On 22 June 2023, Crawley Town announced the signing of Kelly on a two-year contract. [50] He scored his first goal for Crawley in a 3–2 win over Grimsby Town on 28 September 2023. [51]

Following a seventh-place finish in the regular season, Crawley took part in the League Two play-offs. The club beat MK Dons 8–1 over two legs in the semi-final, which was the biggest win in EFL play-offs history; Kelly scored the opener and also provided an assist in the 3–0 first leg win at home on 7 May, and also provided an assist in the 5–1 away win in the second leg on 11 May. [52] [53] [54] On 19 May 2024, Crawley won 2–0 in the 2024 League Two play-off final against Crewe Alexandra at Wembley Stadium and gained promotion to League One; Kelly provided the assist for Danilo Orsi's first-half opener, and scored the second into an open net in the 85th minute. [55] Kelly was given the man of the match award for all three play-off matches. [56] [57] [58]

Milton Keynes Dons

On 4 July 2024, Kelly joined League Two club Milton Keynes Dons for an undisclosed fee. [59] He made his debut for the club on 10 August 2024 in a 1–2 home defeat to Bradford City. [60] Kelly scored his first goal for the club on 19 October 2024, a long-range effort in a 3–1 away win over Morecambe. [61]

International career

Though born in England, Kelly is also eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland in international football due to his Irish-born grandparents. [3] Kelly made his Republic of Ireland under-19 debut against Slovenia under-19 in September 2013. [62] Whilst playing for the Republic of Ireland U19s against Sweden under-19, Kelly scored from the halfway line. [63]

Kelly made his Republic of Ireland under-21 debut against United States under-20 in November 2014. [62]

Kelly received his first call-up for the Republic of Ireland on 13 March 2017, being named in the 39-man provisional squad for the games against Wales and Iceland. [64]

Kelly rejected a call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad in March 2018. Ireland manager Martin O'Neill suggested to the media that Kelly turned down the call-up to "keep his options open" in hope of a future England call-up, though Kelly claimed that his decision was due to "personal reasons". [65] [66] Kelly later told Kevin Palmer of Sunday World he never spoke to O'Neill about playing for England, and that "I was in and out of the team at Reading at the time, so it was very far fetched to say I was looking to get an England call-up". [67]

Style of play

Kelly is a midfielder, and is capable of operating both as a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder. [68] He has been described as a "playmaker", [69] [67] with George Elek of the Not The Top 20 Podcast highlighting his on-field intelligence and technical ability as key facets of his game in 2023. [70] Daniel McDonnell of the Irish Independent wrote in 2017 that Kelly is "comfortable in a deep role, eager to take the ball from his defenders and dictate play", [19] whilst Scott Lindsey, who managed Kelly at Crawley Town and Milton Keynes Dons, claimed Kelly is "very brave" in his style of play, elaborating that "he takes the ball in tight and dangerous areas, dictates and steps forward and tries things". [71]

Kelly has been noted for his relatively short height - which has been reported as being anywhere between 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m) [2] and 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) [3] - though Kelly told The Irish Independent in 2017 that he "never let his height worry him", adding that "guys like Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Xavi are all small in stature and haven’t done too bad in their careers". [3] Reading manager Jaap Stam echoed this comparison to Iniesta in March 2017, claiming that "he can pass, move, go past people and defensively he’s aggressive" and that "if you look at the things Liam can do he certainly comes close to [Iniesta]". [72]

Career statistics

As of match played 25 October 2025 [2]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Reading 2015–16 Championship000000——00
2016–17 [25] Championship2811030—2 [a] 0341
2017–18 [73] Championship3452022——387
2018–19 [74] Championship2011010——221
Total8274062—20949
Bath City (loan) 2015–16 National League South 16600———166
Feyenoord 2019–20 [43] Eredivisie 1000—1 [b] 0—20
2020–21 [75] Eredivisie0000—00—00
2021–22 [76] Eredivisie0000—00—00
Total1000—00—20
Oxford United (loan) 2019–20 [43] League One 301100—1 [c] 051
2020–21 [75] League One2601020—5 [d] 0340
Total2902120—60391
Rochdale 2021–22 [76] League Two 3053010—2 [d] 1366
2022–23 [77] League Two3311010—3 [d] 0381
Total6364020—50746
Crawley Town 2023–24 [78] League Two3741010—6 [e] 2456
Milton Keynes Dons 2024–25 [79] League Two3710000—10381
2025–26 [80] League Two1400010—00150
Total5110010—10531
Career total279201111221020332330

Notes

  1. ↑ Appearance(s) in 2016–17 Football League Championship play-offs
  2. ↑ Appearance in UEFA Europa League
  3. ↑ Appearance(s) in 2019–20 Football League One play-offs
  4. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  5. ↑ Three appearances and two goals in 2023–24 EFL League Two play-offs, three appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Crawley Town

References

  1. ↑ "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "L.Kelly". soccerway.com. Soccerway. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Palmer, Kevin (13 March 2017). "'Irish Messi' Liam Kelly feared his one big flaw would shatter his dreams". Irish Independent. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  4. 1 2 Smith, Anthony (6 July 2017). "Reading FC: Liam Kelly rewarded by Royals with new three-year deal". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 "YouTube star Kelly signs Reading FC contract". Reading Chronicle. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  6. ↑ Palmer, Kevin (6 January 2017). "Meet the Irish wonder-kid looking to shoot down Man United this weekend". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  7. ↑ Fort, Hugh (19 November 2013). "Reading FC: Youngster Liam Kelly signs professional contract". Reading Post. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "Reading FC FA Youth Cup semi final on a knife edge after Fulham fight back". Reading Chronicle. 3 April 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  9. ↑ "Is Aaron Kuhl a target for Manchester City on back of Reading FC's Under 21 Premier League Cup success?". Reading Chronicle. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  10. ↑ "City bring in Kelly on loan from Reading". bathcityfc.com. Bath City F.C. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  11. ↑ "Sutton United 1-1 Bath City". bathcityfc.com. Bath City F.C. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  12. ↑ "Oxford City 1-1 Bath City". bathcityfc.com. Bath City F.C. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  13. ↑ "Loan player updates". bathcityfc.com. Bath City F.C. 11 March 2016. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  14. ↑ "Murphy and Kelly extend but Harvey recalled". bathcityfc.com. Bath City F.C. 10 April 2016. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "L. Kelly: Summary". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  16. ↑ "What's at stake in the last leg for our loanees…". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  17. ↑ "Tennai Watson pens two-year contract". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  18. ↑ Booth, Dominic; Low, Jonathan; Benson, Rory (23 May 2017). "The Reading and Huddersfield promotion models Cardiff can follow". Wales Online. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  19. 1 2 McDonnell, Daniel (18 April 2017). "'It's the way I have always played' - Liam Kelly's refreshing style of play a real positive for Ireland". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  20. 1 2 Smith, Anthony (10 February 2017). "Reading FC: Fan Liam Kelly still pinching himself after becoming a Royals regular under Jaap Stam". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  21. ↑ "Reading FC: Royals defeat MK Dons on penalties to reach EFL Cup third round". Reading Chronicle. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  22. ↑ "Rotherham United 0–1 Reading FC: Paul McShane's late winner secures first win in five for Royals". Reading Chronicle. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  23. ↑ Smith, Anthony (25 October 2016). "Arsenal 2 - 0 Reading FC: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain double sends Royals crashing out of EFL Cup" . Reading Chronicle. Archived from the original on 9 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  24. ↑ "Leeds United 2 - 0 Reading FC: Away day woes continue for Royals with defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road" . Reading Chronicle. 13 December 2016. Archived from the original on 9 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  26. 1 2 "Liam Kelly: Reading midfielder signs new deal with Championship club". BBC Sport. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  27. ↑ Low, Jonathan (2 January 2017). "Kermorgant nets stoppage-time winner as Royals complete fightback". Reading Post. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  28. ↑ "Bristol C 2-3 Reading". BBC Sport. 2 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  29. ↑ https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2017/february/januarys-be-wiser-player-of-the-month-liam-kelly/
  30. ↑ "2016-17 English League Championship Standings - ESPN (UK)". ESPN. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  31. ↑ "Reading will win promotion to Premier League for Paul McShane, says Ali Al-Habsi". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  32. ↑ "Huddersfield Town 0-0 Reading (4-3 pens)". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  33. ↑ "Liam Kelly commits until 2020". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  34. ↑ "Reading 2-0 Gillingham: Royals edge through in Carabao Cup". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  35. ↑ "Reading 1-1 Fulham". BBC Sport. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  36. ↑ https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2017/september/augusts-be-wiser-player-of-the-month-liam-kelly/
  37. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43093646
  38. ↑ https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2018/march/kelly-takes-cherwell-goal-of-the-month/
  39. ↑ "Liam Kelly signs permanently for Dutch giants Feyenoord". readingfc.co.uk/. Reading F.C. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  40. ↑ "Middenvelder Liam Kelly van Reading naar Feyenoord". feyenoord.nl/ (in Dutch). Feyenoord. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  41. ↑ Low, Jonathan (18 July 2019). "Liam Kelly reveals why he swapped Reading for Feyenoord". Reading Post. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  42. ↑ "Liam Kelly joins Oxford United on loan From Feyenoord". oufc.co.uk. Oxford United F.C. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  44. ↑ "Extra time allows Liam Kelly to take big step towards first Oxford United start". Oxford Mail. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  45. ↑ "Oxford United team news: Update on Liam Kelly, Jamie Hanson and Jamie Mackie". Oxford Mail. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  46. ↑ "League One & League Two clubs vote to end seasons early". BBC Sport. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  47. ↑ "Feyenoord laat verhuurde Kelly maand langer in Oxford" . Algemeen Dagblad . 27 June 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  48. ↑ "Oxford United: Liam Kelly and Derick Osei Yaw join League One club". BBC Sport. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  49. ↑ "Liam Kelly Joins Dale". rochdaleafc.co.uk. Rochdale A.F.C. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  50. ↑ "Reds sign midfielder Liam Kelly". crawleytownfc.com. Crawley Town F.C. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  51. ↑ "'It's important to chip in for all areas' - Key Crawley Town midfielder is adding goals to his assists". SussexWorld. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  52. ↑ Froston, Nancy (20 May 2024). "How Crawley became a serious team again – and the Wembley win that proves it". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  53. ↑ "Crawley Town 3-0 MK Dons: Red Devils win League Two play-off semi-final first leg". BBC Sport. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  54. ↑ McIntyre, David (11 May 2024). "Milton Keynes Dons 1–5 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  55. ↑ Peddy, Chris (19 May 2024). "Crawley Town beat Crewe Alexandra to win promotion to League One". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  56. ↑ Lock, Toby (4 July 2024). "Dons confirm capture of Crawley's Kelly". Milton Keynes Citizen. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  57. ↑ Morton, Sam (20 May 2024). "'It's what you dream about' - Jubilant Crawley Town players sum up emotions after Wembley win". SussexWorld. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  58. ↑ "Liam Kelly departs for MK Dons". crawleytownfc.com. Crawley Town F.C. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  59. ↑ "DonDeal: Liam Kelly joins MK Dons". MKDons.com. MK Dons F.C. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  60. ↑ "Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 Bradford City". BBC Sport. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  61. ↑ "Morecambe 1-3 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  62. 1 2 "Liam Kelly RoI Profile". fai.ie. FAI. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  63. ↑ "VIDEO: Irish youngster buries it like Beckham". Metro. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  64. ↑ "Kelly gets maiden call for Ireland senior squad!". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  65. ↑ "Liam Kelly: Reading man turns down Republic to keep England option open". BBC Sport. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  66. ↑ "Liam Kelly explains why he turned down Ireland call-up". The Irish Times. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  67. 1 2 "Liam Kelly: I'd love to play for Ireland and a Wembley win will revive the dream". Sunday World . 7 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  68. ↑ ""The Reds' outstanding player": What Dons are getting from Kelly". Milton Keynes Citizen. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  69. ↑ "'Liam Kelly had a stormer' - Neville impressed by Ireland prospect but Mick McCarthy yet to contact playmaker". Irish Independent. 5 January 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  70. ↑ George Elek; Ali Maxwell (13 May 2024). ""One of the most incredible play-off displays of all time" - EFL Play-off Refresher". Not the Top 20 Podcast (Podcast). Retrieved 7 November 2025. When you watch him play like this, you can't see anything other than a Championship-level operator in terms of how he sees the game, his intelligence on the ball and his technical ability as well in terms of being able to control the ball in tight spaces, keep the ball under pressure and his passing range, short and long.
  71. ↑ "New system at MK Dons is starting to 'unlock' Kelly's ability and influence". Milton Keynes Citizen. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  72. ↑ Smith, Anthony (16 March 2017). "Reading FC: 'He has Iniesta's qualities' - Jaap Stam believes the sky's the limit for Royals midfielder Liam Kelly". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  73. ↑ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  74. ↑ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  75. 1 2 "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  76. 1 2 "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  77. ↑ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  78. ↑ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  79. ↑ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  80. ↑ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  81. ↑ "Crawley Town 2–0 Crewe Alexandra: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
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