2024 Kerry FC Arrivals and Departures

[legendz]

Kerry Football Club can confirm that Cian Barrett has returned to Shamrock Rovers following a successful loan spell in the Kingdom.

[legendz]

Is Leo Gaxha possibly going to Galway? Wouldn't be surprising if he made an impression on both Premier Division bound Galway and Waterford.

[culloty82]

Daniel Okwute retained until the end of the 2024 season.

[listowelceltic]

Good news that. Good skills and pace. Decision making can let him down at times

[culloty82]

Sam Aladesanusi also resigning for next year:

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerry/sport/soccer/kerry-fc-defender-samuel-aladesanusi-re-signs-for-the-2024-league-of-ireland-campaign/a230299295.html

[culloty82]

Ronan Teahan and Kennedy Amechi are both currently having cross-channel trials, but are still expected as of now to remain at Mounthawk Park for 2024.

[culloty82]

Incidentally, given the former player is now on a part-time contract, could the club seek a fee (small though it undoubtedly would be) if he did leave?

[culloty82]

Nathan Gleeson and Cian Brosnan are the latest to re-sign for next season - fair to say we didn't see as much of either in 2023 as might have been expected, but both will undoubtedly play more pivotal roles when Leo's departure is eventually confirmed:

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerry/sport/soccer/kerry-fc-wingers-cian-brosnan-and-nathan-gleeson-commit-to-the-club-for-2024-campaign/a1559633207.html

[legendz]

Leo's going to be a huge loss but at least he is not joining a first Division rival. Other players will have to step up next season without depending on trickery from Leo. Sometimes last season when under pressure, getting the ball to Leo was the option to relieve pressure.

[culloty82]

Looks like Kennedy's staying put, after Reading ended their trial. Stoke appear to be maintaining their interest in Ronan Teahan, but unless they plan to advance him straight into the first-team squad, would still be surprised if he left:

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerry/sport/soccer/kerry-fc-gm-sean-okeeffe-thrilled-as-season-ticket-sales-already-exceed-2023-tally/a371331464.html

[culloty82]

Rob Vasiu and Graham O'Reilly re-sign, the latter had somewhat fallen out of favour, but his return means 11 of last year's squad are on board, still no sign of any new players:

https://kerryfc.com/rob-vasiu-and-graham-o-reilly-have-re-signed-for-kerry-fc/

[legendz]

Rob Vasiu and Graham O'Reilly re-sign, the latter had somewhat fallen out of favour, but his return means 11 of last year's squad are on board, still no sign of any new players:

https://kerryfc.com/rob-vasiu-and-graham-o-reilly-have-re-signed-for-kerry-fc/

Defensive reinforcements are badly needed. The same repeated mistakes were made over the second half of the season. Billy's position would have been tricky with the same repeated defensive mistakes next season. He has been removed from the firing line.

[culloty82]

Aaron O'Sullivan re-signs, presumably he's being promoted to sub-goalie next season, given Nganou was released.

[culloty82]

Will be interesting to see how the squad will be filled out in the New Year - Kennedy Amechi is presumably staying, but even then a fourth forward will probably be needed for the full season, and as things stand we now have four midfielders, which one would hope will eventually get to seven or eight before the First Division starts.

[legendz]

Are two new defensive reinforcements enough?

[kingdomkerry]

Rumours of 2 young lads (both 19) coming in on loan. Given that the previous signings are also young lads I would be concerned. A mixture of youth and youth is not a recipie for success.

[dansultheman]

Rumours of 2 young lads (both 19) coming in on loan. Given that the previous signings are also young lads I would be concerned. A mixture of youth and youth is not a recipie for success.

I think that the two previous signings both have 2 and 3 years of LOI experience with Jack Kavanagh a mainstay on a team that made playoffs and by accounts, Spain was Treaty's best defender. Healy I believe played internationally for Ireland when doing my research and is really highly rated. A very good piece of business by Billy and the club (If true).

My concern is we need some extra Midfielders and attacking options now!

[legendz]

From a few weeks back:

League of Ireland Transfer Tracker: First Division.

Kerry

In: Andy Spain (Treaty United), Jack Kavanagh (Athlone Town).

Out:Cian Barrett (Shamrock Rovers - end of loan), Martin Coughlan, Arthur Nagnou, Alex Ainscough, Leo Gaxha (Galway United), Sean Kennedy.

Re-signed: Daniel Okwute, Cian Brosnan, Nathan Gleeson, Lee Axworthy, Rob Vasiu, Graham O'Reilly, Kevin Williams, Sean O'Connell, Aaron O'Sullivan.

Under contract: Ethan Kos, Ryan Kelliher (2025), Sean McGrath, Ronan Teahan, Samuel Aladesanusi.

It is understandable that young players will come in due to financial constraints but a bit more experience is required.

[culloty82]

Post-match interview last night mentioned there'll be a few trialists brought in for both the Galway friendly and an "in-house game" later that week, so worth keeping an eye on!

[legendz]

Post-match interview last night mentioned there'll be a few trialists brought in for both the Galway friendly and an "in-house game" later that week, so worth keeping an eye on!
Heard that alright. Seems to be a reasonable preseason planned out this year. MSC quarter-final to come as well.
Kerry are supposed to be playing the Mayo League on January 20th in Solar 21 Park.
https://westernpeople.ie/the-2023-highlights-of-the-mayo-soccer-scene_arid-5966.html

[legendz]

*Exclusive

Kennedy Amechi recently spent time on trial with Reading + Crystal Palace (impressing particularly at the former).

However, IFB understands that Kennedy is back in Ireland and set to re-sign with Kerry on a multi year deal.

Huge business he just needs his chance!

[legendz]

Major boost to Kerry FC as Valerii Dolia signs from Athlone Town! Position(s): Left Winger, Centre-Forward, Right Winger.

Interesting signing. A few people were saying a left winger was need. Dolia scored 3 goals against Kerry last year. With Kelliher, Okwute, Amechi and McGrath retained, and now Dolia joining, Kerry should have enough attacking threat to pick up more points this season.

[legendz]

The signing of Victor Udeze brings the official squad size to 27. 7 defenders in the squad but both Ferdia O'Brien and Daire McCarthy can play centre back. Kerry have to be defensively stronger this year. Cutting out the concession of sloppy goals alone will improve on the points total from last year.

[culloty82]

Valerii Dolia has finally returned to training last night, so can't be too long before he's included in matchday squads.

[listowelceltic]

Great news. Skilful player by all accounts. Can't have enough of those. What position does he play?

[culloty82]

A winger, but with eleven goals for Athlone, he evidently isn't shy going forward.

[Zico]

A lot of exits in the last 2 weeks (Healy, Kavanagh and 2 other squad players). With Dolia out injured and a lot of suspensions coming our squad looks thin now.

Interestingly both Treaty and Longford have made a lot of additions in the transfer window, but can only imagine these are players looking for clubs rather than the other way around especially looking at some of Treaty’s signing. Clubs that are out of playoff contention typically offload players mid season to get the wage bill down, effectively giving up on the season.

Curious as to what Kerry’s next move will be (assuming 2 or 3 are coming in per managements comments recently).

[legendz]

https://www.instagram.com/p/C99zFKBvIrw/?igsh=YzVsZGJvNmFzN3ly

Cian Barrett returns to Kerry for the rest of the season.

[culloty82]

Doesn't appear to be any update on Daire McCarthy - AFAIK, if Galway wanted to recall him early from his loan, they had to do so by midnight last night?

[legendz]

Doesn't appear to be any update on Daire McCarthy - AFAIK, if Galway wanted to recall him early from his loan, they had to do so by midnight last night?
As far as I'm aware that's the case. It might have just been idle speculation during the game on Friday! Did the management give any update on absent players on Friday?

[culloty82]

It does seem Tuta is merely injured, and not going anywhere, nothing about Kevin Williams, but the European window doesn't end until next month, so might be some time before there's any finality on that front.

[legendz]

There's seem a bit of weight behind the Williams to Malta story. Tuta was injury related alright AFAIK. A knock picked up against Cobh.

[culloty82]

Conor McCarthy claiming in the Kerryman ?that Williams picked up an ankle injury last week, but it does seem very convenient that having played virtually every game this season, he would be out at the height of the Maltese story!

[legendz]

It'll be very surprising if Kelliher remains on at the end of the season. A bit like Gaxha, hopefully it is just a Premier Division move that will tempt him.
Okwute and Amechi aren't contributing with the goals that I thought they might bring to the party.

[Zico]

Would be great to see Kelliher get a chance with Premier division club next season (not that we want to lose him either), but I’m not sure it will happen. The step up is huge (as Ghaxa found out) and premier clubs have gone mad paying big wages to bring players back from UK also. Terrific goal scorer, but maybe needs to find another yard of pace for top flight.

On the other hand, there must be a lot of clubs looking at Sean O’Connell - as comfortable a full back you will see on the ball. Maybe needs to work a bit more on his defensive side, but one of the best left backs in first division already and just turned 20.

[culloty82]

TBF, it's hard to say Gaxha "failed" in the Premier Division, when Caulfield literally never gave him any meaningful opportunity to make an impression at Galway, so perhaps his instant impact at Athlone is a better gauge to how he can contribute at a higher level, even if play-off chasers are a rung below relegation battlers. Given Kelliher has a year left to run on his contract, would Kerry receive a nominal fee from Premier clubs, or does that only apply to full-time players?

[Zico]

There would be a fee. I believe there was a fee also for Kevin Williams from the Maltese side. If it’s only buying out the remainder of his contract that should be small money to premier division clubs.

[legendz]

Carlsberg don't do Kerry signings but if they did, John Egan currently without a club would sign for Kerry FC!

[culloty82]

Interesting to read the 2025 PFAI Transfer List, which currently lists eleven Kerry players, including Tuta, Spain, Okwute, O'Connell, Brosnan and Teahan, as well as Kelliher - the last seems like a lost cause if any Premier clubs bid, as expected, but would be highly surprised if any of the others left/were released?

https://www.pfai.ie/transfer-list (just select Kerry in the drop down menu)

[Zico]

I thought both Teahan and Kelliher agreed 2 year contracts last year, everyone else was only 1 year. Also surprised to see Ghaxa on it as understood Athlone paid a fee to Galway during summer window, and therefore most likely would have been put on at least an 18 month contract.

[dansultheman]

I thought both Teahan and Kelliher agreed 2 year contracts last year, everyone else was only 1 year. Also surprised to see Ghaxa on it as understood Athlone paid a fee to Galway during summer window, and therefore most likely would have been put on at least an 18 month contract.

I am not sure that the Transfer listed players is as accurate as it says! Kerry signed Kelliher, Teehan and if I remember correctly, Sean McGrath on two year deals, not sure about Amechi!.

Gaxha to Athlone probably was an eye brow raiser but he won't be short offers in the promotion chasing teams in the 1st Division next season. That being said, if Kerry could retain his services, what a boost that would be to the club.

December is when the club starts to announce signings so I anticipate a busy month ahead. The first game in the Munster Senior Cup is a little over 6 weeks away at home to Cobh.