Kian Leavy Explained

Kian Leavy
Birth Date:21 March 2002
Birth Place:Ardee, Republic of Ireland
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:St Patrick's Athletic
Clubnumber:10
Youthclubs1:Drogheda Town
Youthclubs2:Drogheda Boys
Youthclubs3:Shelbourne
Youthclubs4:St Francis
Youthclubs5:St Kevin's Boys
Youthyears6:–2018
Youthclubs6:St Patrick's Athletic
Youthyears7:2018–2021
Youthclubs7:Reading
Years1:2021–2023
Clubs1:Reading
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2023
Clubs2:Shelbourne (loan)
Caps2:11
Goals2:1
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:St Patrick's Athletic
Caps3:42
Goals3:1
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U15
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland U18
Nationalyears3:2022
Nationalteam3:Republic of Ireland U20
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2023
Nationalteam4:Republic of Ireland U21
Nationalcaps4:2
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:13:20, 2 November 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:01:18, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

Kian Leavy (born 21 March 2002) is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic.

Career

Early career

A native of Ardee, County Louth,[1] Leavy began playing with Drogheda Town at under-8s level, before moving on to Drogheda Boys, Shelbourne, St Francis, St Kevin's Boys and St Patrick's Athletic.[2] In July 2018, he joined the youth academy of EFL Championship side Reading in July 2018 from St Patrick's Athletic's academy after receiving interest from the youth academies of Manchester United and Celtic.[3]

Reading

On 2 July 2021, Leavy signed his first professional contract with Reading, until the summer of 2022.[4] On 10 August 2021, Leavy made his debut for Reading in their 3–0 defeat to Swansea City in the EFL Cup. On 9 August 2022, he was in the starting XI in a 2–1 loss to Stevenage in the EFL Cup.[5] On 17 May 2023, it was announced that Leavy would leave Reading in the summer of 2023, upon the expiry of his contract.[2]

Shelbourne loan

On 8 February 2023, Leavy joined Shelbourne on loan until the summer transfer window.[6] He scored the first senior goal of his career on 3 March 2023, coming off the bench in the 60th minute before scoring the only goal of the game in the 78th minute of a win over Bohemians at Tolka Park.[7] On 6 July 2023, Shelbourne announced that Leavy had left the club at the end of his loan spell after rejecting a contract offer from the club for a permanent move.[8]

St Patrick's Athletic

2023 season

On 6 July 2023, it was announced that Leavy had signed for St Patrick's Athletic, returning to the club where he previously played at youth level.[9] Injured upon signing, he had to wait until 11 August 2023 to make his debut, when he was in the starting XI for a 0–0 draw with Bohemians at Richmond Park.[10] On 23 October 2023, he scored his first senior goal for the club, finding the top left corner from 25 yards in a 1–0 win at home to Sligo Rovers to help his side secure UEFA Conference League football for the following season.[11] On 12 November 2023, Leavy was part of the starting XI in the 2023 FAI Cup Final, in a 3–1 win over Bohemians in front of a record breaking FAI Cup Final crowd of 43,881 at the Aviva Stadium.[12]

2024 season

On 8 February 2024, Leavy signed a multi-year contract extension with the club, switching from the squad number 17 squad to number 10 also.[13] On 25 July 2024, he made his first European appearance of his career, replacing Zachary Elbouzedi from the bench in a 3–1 win over Vaduz of Liechtenstein in the UEFA Conference League.[14] On 8 October 2024, Leavy scored the winning goal of the game in a 2–1 victory over St Mochta's in the final of the 2023–24 Leinster Senior Cup.[15]

International career

Leavy has featured at youth level for the Republic of Ireland at U15 and U18 level. In March 2022, he featured for the Republic of Ireland U20 side in a 1–0 win against the Republic of Ireland Amateur team in a friendly at Whitehall Stadium.[16] Leavy made his debut for the Republic of Ireland U21 team in a 2–1 friendly win over Iceland U21 at Turners Cross on 26 March 2023.[17]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Reading2021–22EFL Championship00001010
2022–2300001010
Total00002020
Shelbourne (loan)2023[18] LOI Premier Division11100111
St Patrick's Athletic2023LOI Premier Division913000121
2024330106031431
20250000000000
Total421406031552
Career total53240206031683

Honours

St Patrick's Athletic

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ardee man Leavy called up to Ireland U21 squad. LMFM.
  2. Web site: Home of the Royals!. Reading. FC. Reading FC.
  3. Web site: Delight as Kian Leavy pens three-year Reading deal. independent.ie.
  4. Web site: SEVEN SIGN ON WITH NEW DEALS . readingfc.co.uk/ . Reading F.C. . 11 August 2021 . 2 July 2021.
  5. Web site: Late Stevenage goal seals deserved win at Reading. www.bbc.com.
  6. Web site: KIAN LEAVY JOINS SHELBOURNE ON LOAN . readingfc.co.uk . Reading F.C. . 9 February 2023 . 8 February 2023.
  7. Web site: Sub Kian Leavy leaves it late but Damien Duff’s Shelbourne triumph over Bohemians in tense derby. 3 March 2023. Independent.ie.
  8. Web site: Kian Leavy departs. 6 July 2023.
  9. Web site: Kian Leavy and Alex Nolan sign for the Saints. Luke. Jordan. extratime.com.
  10. Web site: Stalemate in breathless Dublin derby as Bohemians and St Pat’s share the points in Inchicore. 11 August 2023. Independent.ie.
  11. Web site: Youngster Leavy stars as St Pat's secure European football for next season. Paul. Buttner. 23 October 2023. The 42.
  12. Web site: FAI Cup final recap: Bohemians 1-3 St Pat's. James. Fenton. 12 November 2023. www.rte.ie.
  13. Web site: Kian Leavy Extends Contract. www.stpatsfc.com.
  14. Web site: St Pat’s return to form with impressive European win over FC Vaduz. 25 July 2024. Irish Independent.
  15. Web site: St Patrick’s Athletic crowned Leinster Senior Cup winners. Extratime. Team. extratime.com.
  16. Web site: REPORT | Ireland U20s 0-1 Ireland Amateurs | Football Association of Ireland. www.fai.ie.
  17. Web site: Republic of Ireland 2 - 1 Iceland | 2023 - Under-21 Mens Friendlies | 999948672 | Football Association of Ireland. www.fai.ie.
  18. Web site: Republic of Ireland - K. Leavy - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com.