Kian Leavy
FullnameKian Leavy[1]
Birth date21 March 2002 (age 24)
Birth placeArdee, Ireland
PositionMidfielder
CurrentclubSt Patrick's Athletic
Clubnumber10
Youthclubs 1Drogheda Town
Youthclubs 2Drogheda Boys
Youthclubs 3Shelbourne
Youthclubs 4St Francis
Youthclubs 5St Kevin's Boys
Youthyears 6–2018
Youthclubs 6St Patrick's Athletic
Youthyears 72018–2021
Youthclubs 7Reading
Years 12021–2023
Clubs 1Reading
Caps 10
Goals 10
Years 22023
Clubs 2→ Shelbourne (loan)
Caps 211
Goals 21
Years 32023–
Clubs 3St Patrick's Athletic
Caps 387
Goals 37
Nationalyears 12017
Nationalteam 1Republic of Ireland U15
Nationalcaps 11
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22019
Nationalteam 2Republic of Ireland U18
Nationalcaps 21
Nationalgoals 20
Nationalyears 32022
Nationalteam 3Republic of Ireland U20
Nationalcaps 31
Nationalgoals 30
Nationalyears 42023
Nationalteam 4Republic of Ireland U21
Nationalcaps 42
Nationalgoals 40
Club-update23:38, 29 May 2026 (UTC)
Ntupdate01:18, 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,[2][3] 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.[4] 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.[5]

Reading

On 2 July 2021, Leavy signed his first professional contract with Reading, until the summer of 2022.[6] On 10 August 2021, Leavy made his debut for Reading in their 3–0 defeat to Swansea City in the EFL Cup.[7][3] On 9 August 2022, he was in the starting XI in a 2–1 loss to Stevenage in the EFL Cup.[8] On 17 May 2023, it was announced that Leavy would leave Reading in the summer of 2023, upon the expiry of his contract.[4]

Shelbourne loan

On 8 February 2023, Leavy joined Shelbourne on loan until the summer transfer window.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]

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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15]

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.[16] On 25 July 2024, he made his first European appearance of his career, replacing Zack Elbouzedi from the bench in a 3–1 win over Vaduz of Liechtenstein in the UEFA Conference League.[17] 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.[18]

2025 season

Leavy scored his first goal of the 2025 season on 21 January 2025 in a 2–1 win over Bray Wanderers at Richmond Park, dribbling past 4 players before finding the bottom right corner.[19] He suffered an ankle ligament injury in pre-season training, undergoing surgery on 12 February 2025, with the recovery period due to keep him out of action for 2 months.[20] On 2 May 2025, he scored his first league goal of the season, opening the scoring in a 2–0 win at home to Galway United that put his side top of the league.[21] On 17 July 2025, Leavy scored the first European goal of his career, scoring his side's second goal of the game in a 2–0 win away to Hegelmann of Lithuania in the UEFA Conference League.[22] On 22 September 2025, he scored the final goal of the game in a 4–0 win at home to Cork City at Richmond Park.[23]

2026 season

On 2 March 2026, Leavy scored his first goal of the season with a 90th minute winner into the bottom right corner from outside the box in a 1–0 victory over Galway United at Richmond Park.[24] On 13 March 2026, Leavy scored a 68th minute volley to give his side a two goal lead in an eventual 4–1 win at home to Drogheda United.[25] On 17 April 2026, Leavy's cross forced an own goal from Conor Keeley, then 3 minutes later he found the bottom corner himself to help his side to a 3–1 victory away to Drogheda United.[26][27] On 4 May 2026, he opened the scoring in a 1–1 draw away to Sligo Rovers by beating two opponents with his first touch, then firing a curled effort into the bottom left corner from 20 yards.[28]

Style of Play

Leavy can play across the Attacking midfield line, centrally, or on the wings and is known for his excellent dribbling ability and fitness levels.[29] In April 2025, Leavy's manager at St Patrick's Athletic and former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny speaking about Leavy stated "He's remarkable. I said to the players, I learn from him every day. He's a very versatile player, he can play on both wings, in central areas, he's invaluable to us. His work ethic is very high and he's got a high skill level. His levels of professionalism are really up levels, and he's the fittest player we have, he wins all the tests."[30] Kenny drew comparisons in Leavy's dribbling style with Diego Maradona in September 2025, saying "As I said to him in pre-season when he was having a spell like that, dribbling by everyone, it was sort of Maradona-esque, you know? That left footed low centre of gravity, always dribbling on your left foot and going both ways. It's very unusual, you know, and it's very exciting. He's got that trajectory with his dribbling, and then his speed and his unpredictability. He finds a space where it doesn't exist when he's dribbling."[31]

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.[32] 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.[33]

On 30 May 2026, Leavy was called up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad for the first time, for a friendly away to Canada.[34]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Reading2021–22[35]EFL Championship000010––10
2022–23[36]000010––10
Total000020––20
Shelbourne (loan)2023[37]LOI Premier Division111–––0[a]0111
St Patrick's Athletic2023[37]LOI Premier Division9130–0[b]0–121
2024[37]33010—6[c]03[d]1431
2025[37]27230—6[c]12[a]1384
2026[37]18400——0[a]0184
Total87770–1215211110
Career total98870201215212411
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Leinster Senior Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in the UEFA Conference League
  4. ^ 1 appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup & 2 appearances, 1 goal in the Leinster Senior Cup

Honours

St Patrick's Athletic

References

  1. ^ "EFL Squad List: Season 2022/23". EFL. 8 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Ardee man Leavy called up to Ireland U21 squad". LMFM
  3. ^ Murphy, Hubert (2021-08-17). "Ardee man Kian Leavy makes Reading debut". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  4. ^ FC, Reading. "Home of the Royals!". Reading FC
  5. ^ "Delight as Kian Leavy pens three-year Reading deal". independent.ie. 6 July 2018.
  6. ^ "SEVEN SIGN ON WITH NEW DEALS". readingfc.co.uk/. Reading F.C. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  7. ^
  8. ^ "Late Stevenage goal seals deserved win at Reading". BBC Sport. 9 August 2022.
  9. ^ "KIAN LEAVY JOINS SHELBOURNE ON LOAN". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Sub Kian Leavy leaves it late but Damien Duff's Shelbourne triumph over Bohemians in tense derby". Independent.ie. 3 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Kian Leavy departs". 6 July 2023.
  12. ^ Jordan, Luke. "Kian Leavy and Alex Nolan sign for the Saints". extratime.com
  13. ^ "Stalemate in breathless Dublin derby as Bohemians and St Pat's share the points in Inchicore". Independent.ie. 11 August 2023.
  14. ^ Buttner, Paul (23 October 2023). "Youngster Leavy stars as St Pat's secure European football for next season". The 42
  15. ^ Fenton, James (12 November 2023). "FAI Cup final recap: Bohemians 1-3 St Pat's". – via www.rte.ie.
  16. ^ "Kian Leavy Extends Contract". www.stpatsfc.com
  17. ^ "St Pat's return to form with impressive European win over FC Vaduz". Irish Independent. 25 July 2024.
  18. ^ Team, Extratime. "St Patrick's Athletic crowned Leinster Senior Cup winners". extratime.com
  19. ^ "Result: Saints 2 - Bray 1". www.stpatsfc.com
  20. ^ "Kian Leavy Injury Update". www.stpatsfc.com
  21. ^ "10-man Pat's go top of table as first half goals from Kian Leavy and Zach Elbouzedi see off Galway". www.independent.ie. 2 May 2025.
  22. ^ Fennessy, Paul (17 July 2025). "'That will do wonders for his confidence, the only thing he's lacking has been goals'". The 42
  23. ^ "Birthday boy Mason Melia strikes on the double as St Pat's make most of Cork gifts". Irish Independent. September 22, 2025.
  24. ^ Buttner, Paul (2 March 2026). "Sublime late Kian Leavy strike for Pat's stuns Galway". Irish Examiner
  25. ^ O'Hehir, Paul (13 March 2026). "St Pat’s come from behind to dismantle Drogheda". The 42
  26. ^ Landy, Barry (17 April 2026). "Kian Leavy's brace sees St Pats return to winning ways at Drogheda United". Irish Examiner
  27. ^ "Another Kian Leavy masterclass sinks Drogheda United as win-less run extends to nine matches". Irish Independent. 19 April 2026.
  28. ^ "Contentious penalty earns Sligo Rovers a point despite St Patrick’s Athletic dominating for periods". Irish Independent. 4 May 2026.
  29. ^ Sneyd, David (3 March 2026). "Stephen Kenny hoping Kian Leavy blossoms from rising star into lethal matchwinner". The 42
  30. ^ McCadden, Mark (7 April 2025). "Stephen Kenny backs 'exceptional' returning St Pat's star to hit goal trail". Irish Mirror
  31. ^ ""It's Maradona-esque" – Stephen Kenny's high praise for 'unusual' dribbling prowess of Kian Leavy". www.independent.ie. 21 September 2025.
  32. ^ "REPORT | Ireland U20s 0-1 Ireland Amateurs | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie
  33. ^ "Republic of Ireland 2 - 1 Iceland | 2023 - Under-21 Mens Friendlies | 999948672 | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie
  34. ^ https://www.fai.ie/latest/mnt-squad-update-healy-leavy-and-odwyer-travel-canada-latest-ireland-squad-update/
  35. ^
  36. ^
  37. ^ "Republic of Ireland - K. Leavy - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com