Kai Kennedy

Kai Kennedy
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-03-28) 28 March 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s) Left winger
Team information
Current team
 Queen of the South
Youth career
2009–2019 Rangers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2023 Rangers 0 (0)
2020–2021 → Inverness Caledonian Thistle (loan) 8 (1)
2021 → Raith Rovers (loan) 16 (1)
2021 → Dunfermline Athletic (loan) 14 (1)
2022 → Hamilton Academical (loan) 7 (1)
2022–2023 → Falkirk (loan) 29 (9)
2023–2024 York City 14 (0)
2024- Queen of the South 5 (0)
International career‡
2018 Scotland U16 1 (0)
2018–2019 Scotland U17 7 (1)
2018–2019 Scotland U18 (3)
2019–2020 Scotland U19 4 (1)
2021 Scotland U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:09, 15 March 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 October 2020

Kai Alexander Kennedy (born 28 March 2002) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Scottish League One club Queen of the South.

Club career

Kennedy came through the youth system at Rangers. On 15 June 2018, Kennedy signed a three-year contract with the club.[1] Kennedy debuted for the first-team at Rangers on 17 January 2020 in a Scottish Cup match against Stranraer at Ibrox Stadium.[2]

In late September 2020, it was reported by the Daily Record that Kennedy was being chased by multiple clubs including Sheffield United, Manchester City, Roma and Bayern Munich due to a contract dispute with Rangers.[3] In October 2020 he was loaned to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Championship.[4][5] On 5 January 2021, Kennedy's loan at Inverness Caledonian Thistle was cut-short due to homesickness after Scotland was placed into another full lockdown, leaving him with the inability to travel between Inverness and his family in Glasgow.[6]

On 8 January 2021, Kennedy signed a new contract with Rangers until the summer of 2023. On the same day he signed a loan deal with Raith Rovers until the end of the season.[7][8] On 22 July 2021, Kennedy returned to Fife with Dunfermline Athletic, signing a season-long loan deal.[9] Kennedy was recalled by his parent club during the January transfer window.[10] On 14 January 2022, Kennedy joined Scottish Championship side Hamilton Academical on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[11] On 14 July 2022, Kennedy was loaned to Falkirk for the 2022–23 season [12] and was then released by Rangers at the end of that season.[13]

During August 2023, Kennedy joined York City.[14]

On 24 June 2024, Kennedy signed a one-year contract with Queen of the South.[15]

International career

Kennedy has represented Scotland at various youth levels up to under-19s. He was promoted to the under-21 squad in November 2020.[16]

Career statistics

As of match played 21 January 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rangers 2019–20 Scottish Premiership 0 0 1 0 0 0 — 1 0
2020–21 Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
Inverness CT (loan) 2020–21 Scottish Championship 8 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 10 1
Raith Rovers (loan) 2020–21 Scottish Championship 16 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 19 1
Dunfermline Athletic (loan) 2021–22 Scottish Championship 14 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 1
Hamilton Academical (loan) 2021–22 Scottish Championship 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1
Falkirk (loan) 2022–23 Scottish League One 29 9 2 0 0 0 2 0 33 9
Career total 74 13 5 0 2 0 3 0 84 13

References

  1. ^ Thomson, Nick (15 June 2018). "Hardie Signs New Deal". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club.
  2. ^ "Rangers 2–0 Stranraer". BBC Sport. 17 January 2020.
  3. ^ McDougall, Mark (29 September 2020). "Kai Kennedy wanted by Sheffield United as Rangers youngster weighs up Ibrox exit". Daily Record. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  4. ^ McDougall, Mark (4 October 2020). "Kai Kennedy closes in on Rangers exit as teen prepares to join Inverness on loan". Daily Record. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Kai Kennedy joins ICTFC on loan". ICTFC.com. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Rangers wonderkid set to return to Ibrox as loan deal comes to an end". Rangers News. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Kai Kennedy Signs New Contract Extension". www.rangers.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Kai Kennedy | Raith Rovers FC". www.raithrovers.net. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Kai Kennedy arrives at Dunfermline". Dunfermline Athletic FC. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  10. ^ Hart, Ross (3 January 2022). "Dunfermline: Lewis Martin wins contract as Kai Kennedy future revealed". Dunfermline Press. Newsquest. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Kennedy signs for Accies". Hamilton Academical FC. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  12. ^ "KAI KENNEDY JOINS THE BAIRNS". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  13. ^ "RANGERS CONFIRM ACADEMY DEPARTURES". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 1 June 2023.
  14. ^ Ramsay, Gabriel (24 August 2023). "Kai Kennedy joins York City from Scottish giants Rangers". York Press. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  15. ^ https://www.qosfc.com/news-6418
  16. ^ Lindsay, Clive (28 October 2020). "Aaron Hickey: Bologna left-back given first Scotland Under-21 call-up". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 28 October 2020.