Kai Whitmore
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kai Rees William Whitmore | ||
| Date of birth | 25 March 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Neath Port Talbot, Wales | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Young Lions | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Swansea City | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | Ammanford | 11 | (3) |
| 2022–2023 | Penybont | 44 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | Haverfordwest County | 27 | (4) |
| 2024–2026 | Newport County | 44 | (5) |
| 2026– | Young Lions | 0 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:56, 2 February 2026 (UTC) | |||
Kai Rees William Whitmore (born 25 March 2001) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Young Lions.
Youth career
Whitmore began his footballing journey at a young age coming through the Swansea City academy.
Ammanford
Whitmore made his senior debut for Cymru South club Ammanford in the 2021–22 season on 23 July 2021 against Llanelli Town in a 3–0 win. He scored his first professional career goal in a 8–1 thrashing win over Undy Athletic on 21 August. Whitemore scored 3 goals and contribute 1 assist in 12 appearances across all competition in his debut season.[2]
Penybont
On 12 January 2022, Whitmore moved to Penybont for the remainder of the 2021–22 Cymru Premier season. This move marked his debut in the top flight. In the 2022–23 season, Whitmore played a key role in their impressive campaign, featuring in all 32 league games. He helped the club secure a top-three finish, which earned them a spot in the qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round. Whitmore also played in the 2021–22 Welsh Cup final. The game ended in a 2–3 lost, with the victory going to The New Saints.[3]
Haverfordwest County
Whitmore performances during that season caught the attention of Haverfordwest County, where he joined the club on 22 May 2023.[4] At Haverfordwest County, Whitmore continued to shine under the guidance of Tony Pennock. He scored a brace in a 3–0 win over Aberystwyth Town on 30 September. Whitmore played a crucial role in their 2023–24 UEFA Conference League qualification campaign. He featured in all 4 of the 2 two-legged match against Shkëndija and B36 Tórshavn. In total, Whitmore made 32 appearances across all competitions for Haverfordwest, contributing four goals and providing a steady presence in the midfield.
Newport County
In June 2024, Whitmore joined EFL League Two side Newport County.[5] He made his debut for Newport on 10 August in the 3–2 league defeat to Cheltenham Town.[6] In the next match on 17 August, Whitmore scored his first goal for the club in the 3–1 win against Doncaster Rovers.[7]
On 25 October 2025, Whitmore recorded three assists in a 3–0 away win over Harrogate Town.[8] On 8 November, Whitmore scored the opening goal, a top corner screamer, as Newport fell to a 2–4 home defeat against Walsall.[9] On 10 December, he assisted Cameron Antwi, who went on to scored a stoppage time equaliser against Crewe Alexandra to bring the match to a 2–2 draw. On 2 February 2026, Whitmore departed the club by mutual consent.[10]
Young Lions
On 14 April 2026, Whitmore signed with Singapore Premier League side Young Lions, a developmental club managed by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) despite offers from European clubs. As the transfer took place outside the league's registration window, he will not be eligible to feature for the remainder of the 2025–26 season but rather the following 2026–27 season.[11][12]
International career
Whitmore is eligible to play for the Singapore national team through his grandfather who was born in Singapore in 1961 at the old Changi Hospital. Whitmore also expressed his interest in June 2025 to represent the Singapore national team and has contacted FAS on the process.[13]