Liam Kitching
English footballer (born 1999)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Liam James Kitching (born 25 September 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Coventry City. He started his career at Leeds United, though did not make a first-team appearance, and also had loan spells at Harrogate Town before joining Forest Green Rovers in July 2019 and Barnsley in 2021.
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Kitching with Coventry City in 2024. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Liam James Kitching[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 25 September 1999[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Harrogate, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Coventry City | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2018 | Leeds United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2019 | Leeds United | 0 | (0) |
| 2018 | → Harrogate Town (loan) | 9 | (3) |
| 2018–2019 | → Harrogate Town (loan) | 34 | (3) |
| 2019–2021 | Forest Green Rovers | 44 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Barnsley | 82 | (5) |
| 2023– | Coventry City | 87 | (3) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 09:35, 16 March 2026 (UTC) | |||
Early life
Kitching was born in Harrogate and attended Rossett School.[4] He is of Irish descent.[5]
Career
Leeds United
Kitching began his career at Leeds United and signed a two-year contract with the club in July 2017.[6] After featuring regularly for Leeds' under-23 side during the first half of the season, Kitching joined Harrogate Town on a one-month loan in January 2018.[7][8] His first appearance for Harrogate came as a substitute in a 4–1 victory over Stockport County before making his first start for Harrogate on 10 February 2018 in a 3–1 victory over Leamington, in which he scored the first goal of his senior career.[3][9] On 16 February 2018, his loan was extended until the end of the season.[10] After making 9 league appearances for Harrogate, scoring three goals,[3] Harrogate were promoted to the National League after defeating Brackley Town 3–0 in the play-off final.[11] On 20 July 2018, Kitching signed a new contract with Leeds United before rejoining Harrogate on a six-month loan deal.[12] In January 2019, his loan was extended until the end of the season, after scoring three goals in 25 appearances during the first half of the season.[13] Across the 2018–19 season, Kitching appeared in 34 league games for Harrogate, scoring twice.[3]
Forest Green Rovers
Kitching signed with Forest Green Rovers in July 2019 on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[14][15] He made his debut for Forest Green Rovers as a substitute in their 1–1 League Two draw away to Walsall,[16] before making his first start on 13 August 2020 in a penalty shoot-out victory over Charlton Athletic following a 0–0 draw in the EFL Cup, in which Kitching conceded a missed penalty in normal time.[17] He appeared in 29 of Forest Green Rovers' 36 league matches across the truncated 2019–20 season.[3]
Barnsley
On 5 January 2021, Kitching signed for Championship club Barnsley on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £600,000.[18][19][20] He scored his first goal for the club on 13 September 2022 in a 1–1 draw against Port Vale.[21]
Coventry City
On 1 September 2023, Kitching transferred to Championship side Coventry City.[22] On 14 February 2024, he scored his first goal for Coventry, a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2–2 draw against Plymouth Argyle.[23] On 1 April, he scored two own goals in a 2–1 home loss to Cardiff City.[24]
Style of play
Kitching can play as a centre-back or as a left-back.[25][15]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Leeds United | 2017–18 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018–19 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Harrogate Town (loan) | 2017–18 | National League North | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 10 | 3 | |
| Harrogate Town (loan) | 2018–19 | National League | 34 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 3[a] | 1 | 39 | 4 | |
| Forest Green Rovers | 2019–20 | League Two | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | League Two | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Total | 44 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 53 | 0 | ||
| Barnsley | 2020–21 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | Championship | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | League One | 45 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[d] | 1 | 53 | 5 | |
| 2023–24 | League One | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| Total | 82 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 93 | 6 | ||
| Coventry City | 2023–24 | Championship | 28 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 1 |
| 2024–25 | Championship | 27 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
| 2025–26 | Championship | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 2 | |
| Total | 87 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 100 | 4 | ||
| Career total | 255 | 14 | 18 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 295 | 17 | ||
- Appearances in the EFL Trophy
- Appearances in the EFL Championship play-offs
- One appearance in the EFL Trophy, three appearances and one goal in the EFL League One play-offs