Liam Kelly (footballer, born 1996)
Scottish footballer (born 1996)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Liam Patrick Kelly (born 23 January 1996) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Scottish Premiership club Rangers and the Scotland national team. Kelly has previously played for Motherwell, East Fife, Livingston and Queens Park Rangers.
|
Kelly with Scotland in 2026 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Liam Patrick Kelly[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 23 January 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.87 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Rangers | ||
| Number | 31 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2015 | Rangers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2018 | Rangers | 0 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | → Livingston (loan) | 34 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Livingston | 36 | (0) |
| 2019–2021 | Queens Park Rangers | 19 | (0) |
| 2021 | → Motherwell (loan) | 18 | (0) |
| 2021–2024 | Motherwell | 114 | (0) |
| 2024– | Rangers | 10 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2011–2012 | Scotland U16[3] | 3 | (0) |
| 2012 | Scotland U17[3] | 5 | (0) |
| 2012–2015 | Scotland U19[3] | 11 | (0) |
| 2016 | Scotland U21[3] | 2 | (0) |
| 2023– | Scotland[3] | 3 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:29, 2 April 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:46, 30 May 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Rangers
Kelly joined Rangers aged ten and played in the club's youth sides, notably scoring the final penalty during Rangers under-17s Glasgow Cup win in 2012.[4][5]
After training with the first-team for the majority of the 2014–15 season and featuring on the bench, Kelly signed a contract extension on 25 February 2015, until the summer of 2018.[6]
Loan moves
On 8 January 2016, Kelly joined East Fife in Scottish League Two on a six-month loan.[7] During his time at Bayview Stadium, Kelly played in 16 league matches and was part of the side which won the League Two title.[8] Upon returning to Rangers, Kelly travelled to the United States with the first team for a pre-season training camp.[9] However, on 15 July 2016, he was loaned out to the then Scottish League One team Livingston until January 2017.[10] He made his debut for Livi the next day in a League Cup match against St Mirren.[11]
Livingston
Kelly moved to Livingston, where he had previously been on loan, for an undisclosed fee in June 2018.[12] He played regularly for Livingston in the 2018–19 season, but then invoked a release clause in his contract.[13]
Queens Park Rangers
On 14 June 2019, Kelly signed for Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract.[14] It was reported that the transfers fee was £50,000 with Livingston retaining a sell on bonus.[15] He made his debut on 13 August 2019, in an EFL Cup match against Bristol City saving two penalties in a 5–4 penalty shootout win.
Motherwell (loan)
On 6 January 2021, Kelly moved on loan to Motherwell for the remainder of the season.[16]
Motherwell
On 5 July 2021, Kelly returned to Motherwell on a permanent transfer from Queens Park Rangers, signing a three-year contract.[17]
Return to Rangers
On 27 June 2024, Rangers completed the signing of goalkeeper Liam Kelly on a two-year deal. Kelly, a former Rangers academy player, returned to Ibrox after his contract expired at Motherwell.[18] Kelly made his first competitive appearance for Rangers on 21 December 2024, in a 1–0 victory against Dundee at Ibrox.[19] He then started in an Old Firm game for the first time, as Rangers won 3–0 against Celtic on 2 January 2025.[20] Following a dip of form for regular starter Butland, Kelly was chosen to play in a Europa League tie against Athletic Bilbao. He saved a penalty kick in the first leg, which ended in a goalless draw.[21] Kelly played in 10 league games during the 2024–25 season, recording four clean sheets.
International career
Kelly has represented Scotland at various age levels, up to an including the under-21 team.[3]
Kelly received his first call-up to the senior Scotland squad in March 2019 for games against Kazakhstan and San Marino.[22] After many call-ups to the squad without playing, Kelly finally made his full international debut in a friendly against France on 17 October 2023.[23] He was selected in the Scotland squads for UEFA Euro 2024[24] and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[25][26]
Style of play
Kenny Miller, who played alongside Kelly at Rangers and was also his player-manager at Livi, said of him in 2018: "He's excellent with the ball at his feet. He's a proper modern-day goalkeeper".[27]
Personal life
He is the brother of Livingston defender Sean Kelly[28] and Dumbarton goalkeeper Shay Kelly.[29] In October 2023 Liam and Sean faced each other from 12 yards in a Scottish Premiership fixture, with Sean scoring his penalty past Liam.[30] He has 1 child. Born 2025
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 8 February 2026[31]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rangers | 2015–16 | Scottish Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | |
| 2016–17 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | |||
| 2017–18 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| East Fife (loan) | 2015–16 | Scottish League Two | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Livingston (loan) | 2016–17 | Scottish League One | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| Livingston | 2018–19 | Scottish Premiership | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 42 | 0 | |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2019–20 | Championship | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 22 | 0 | |
| 2020–21 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
| Motherwell (loan) | 2020–21 | Scottish Premiership | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |
| Motherwell | 2021–22 | Scottish Premiership | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 46 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | Scottish Premiership | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | Scottish Premiership | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
| Total | 132 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 154 | 0 | ||
| Rangers | 2024–25 | Scottish Premiership | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| 2025–26 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 243 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 284 | 0 | ||
Honours
Club
- Rangers under-17
- Glasgow Cup: 2012[5]
- East Fife
- Livingston
