Matty Kennedy

Kilmarnock

Born in Belfast, Kennedy had the opportunity to join the youth academies of Celtic and Rangers, but chose to join Kilmarnock as the club were closer to his home in South Ayrshire. He felt Kilmarnock played a style of football that suited him. On 19 November 2011, aged 17, Kennedy made his first-team debut as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Hibernian at Easter Road. He started his first game for "Killie" in a 2–1 win over St Mirren at Rugby Park on 2 January 2012. He ended the 2011–12 campaign with 11 Scottish Premier League appearances. He played three games at the start of the 2012–13 season before leaving the club; manager Kenny Shiels expressed his concern that Kennedy had left Kilmarnock too soon and he had missed out on seeing Kennedy's "proper development" at the club.

Everton

On 31 August 2012, the final day of the summer transfer window, Kennedy signed for English Premier League side Everton for a "nominal fee". The fee was later revealed to be £225,000. In a later interview he stated that "I've got nothing but praise for their academy. I don't think you could have a better youth set up. My coaches were David Unsworth, Alan Stubbs and David Weir." On 9 January 2014, Kennedy signed on loan for League One side Tranmere Rovers. Manager Ronnie Moore extended the loan spell for a further month after being impressed by his first six appearances at Prenton Park. On 26 March 2014, Kennedy joined Milton Keynes Dons, also of League One, on a youth…

Scotland youth

Kennedy has represented Scotland at under-15, under-16, under-17 and under-19 level. He was selected by under-21 interim coach Ricky Sbragia to play Portugal under-21 at Estádio do Bonfim, Setúbal on 14 November 2012; he came on for Callum Paterson 66 minutes into a 3–2 defeat, in what was his only under-21 cap.

Northern Ireland

In September 2019, it was reported that Kennedy was due to switch his international allegiance to the country of his birth, Northern Ireland. He was pictured training with the senior Northern Ireland squad ahead of a friendly with Luxembourg. He was called up to the Northern Ireland senior squad on 3 October. He made his debut for Northern Ireland on 18 November 2020, in a 1–1 draw with Romania in the UEFA Nations League. He was recalled to the squad in March 2022 and again twelve months later.

Able to play on either wing, Kennedy was described by Tranmere Rovers manager Ronnie Moore as "quick, [he] likes to take on defenders and [is someone] will create chances for his team-mates".

Club statistics

As of match played 12 April 2025

International statistics

As of match played 10 September 2023