Killian Phillips

Killian Phillips
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-03-30) 30 March 2002 (age 21)
Place of birth San Diego, California, United States
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Aberdeen (on loan from Crystal Palace)
Number 18
Youth career
Kilbarrack United
Drogheda United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Drogheda United 30 (2)
2022– Crystal Palace 0 (0)
2023 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 19 (3)
2023–2024 → Wycombe Wanderers (loan) 24 (1)
2024– → Aberdeen (loan) 3 (0)
International career‡
2022 Republic of Ireland U20 1 (0)
2023– Republic of Ireland U21 5 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:34, 1 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:33, 21 November 2023 (UTC)

Killian Phillips (born 30 March 2002) is an Irish footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen, on loan from Premier League club Crystal Palace. Born in United States he plays for Republic of Ireland U21 national football team

Early life

Phillips was born in San Diego on 30 March 2002 and moved to Kilbarrack, Dublin as a child.[1] He began his football career as a youth player with Kilbarrack United before moving to the academy sides of Drogheda United.[2]

Club career

Drogheda United

Having been a non-playing substitute in some matches in 2020, Phillips made his debut for Drogheda United in a 1–0 loss at home to Shamrock Rovers on 20 April 2021.[3] The first senior goal of Phillips' career came on 8 May 2021, in a 7–0 win away to Waterford at the RSC as the home side fielded their under-19 squad due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the first team.[4] On 24 October 2021, Phillips scored the only goal of the game as Drogheda beat Derry City at United Park.[5] He made 31 appearances in all competitions during the 2021 season, scoring two goals.[6]

Crystal Palace

At the end of the season, he had a trial with Crystal Palace and made a permanent move to the Premier League club in January 2022,[7] and spent the rest of the 2021–22 season with the club's under-23 team.[1] In March 2022, he was selected for the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad,[8] but was only involved as a non-playing substitute. He was part of the Crystal Palace first-team squad that travelled to Singapore and Australia before the 2022–23 season and started in the friendly games against Liverpool and Manchester United.[9] Phillips made his senior debut for Crystal Palace on 23 August 2022, starting the Carabao Cup tie against Oxford United.[10][11]

Shrewsbury Town loan

On 29 December 2022, it was announced that Phillips would join Shrewsbury Town on loan until the end of the season, once the transfer window opened on 1 January 2023.[12][13] Despite only featuring for half of the season, Phillips was awarded the Young Player of the Season for his efforts.[14] His performances for the "Shrews" were described as "immense" by the club's manager Steve Cotterill.[15]

Wycombe Wanderers loan

On 11 August 2023, Phillips signed a new contract with Crystal Palace and on the same day also joined EFL League One club Wycombe Wanderers on a season long loan deal.[16][17]

Phillips scored his first league goal for the club in a 2-1 loss against local rivals Reading F.C. on 25 November 2023.

Aberdeen loan

After it was mutually agreed to cut short his loan at Wycombe Wanderers, Phillips joined Scottish club Aberdeen on 28 January 2024 until the end of season.

International career

Phillips' first involvement at international level came in March 2022, when he captained a Republic of Ireland U20 team in a 1–0 friendly match defeat against a team of Ireland Amateurs at Whitehall Stadium.[18] His performance earned him a call up to the U21 side for their qualifying fixture away to Sweden U21 the following week.[19] He made his debut for the U21 team in a 2–1 friendly win over Iceland U21 at Turners Cross on 26 March 2023.[20] On 21 November 2023, he scored his first goal for his country in a 2–2 draw at home to Italy U21.[21]

Career statistics

As of match played 10 February 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Drogheda United 2021[22] League of Ireland Premier Division 30 2 1 0 — — 31 2
Crystal Palace 2022–23[22] Premier League 0 0 — — — 0 0
2022–23[22] Premier League 0 0 — 1 0 — 1 0
2023–24[22] Premier League 0 0 — — — 0 0
Total 30 2 1 0 1 0 — 32 2
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2022–23[22] League One 19 3 1 0 — — 20 3
Wycombe Wanderers (loan) 2023–24[22] League One 24 1 2 1 1 0 3 0 30 2
Aberdeen (loan) 2023–24[22] Scottish Premiership 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Career total 76 6 5 1 2 0 3 0 86 7
  1. ^ Includes FAI Cup & FA Cup

References

  1. ^ a b Sneyd, David. "The start of a journey in football: 'I feel like I'm always chasing, and being chased'". The42. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  2. ^ "'He looked a box-to-box player with a lot of strength' – Kilbarrack youth Killian Phillips catches Patrick Vieira's eye". independent. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  3. ^ "League Report: Drogheda United 0 – 1 Shamrock Rovers". extratime.com.
  4. ^ "League Report: Waterford 0 - 7 Drogheda United". ExtraTime.com.
  5. ^ Landy, Barry (24 October 2021). "Phillips heads Drogheda to victory over Derry" – via www.rte.ie. {cite journal}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "Republic of Ireland - K. Phillips - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com.
  7. ^ "Drogs ace Phillips signs Palace deal". independent. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Keep track of Palace's Academy internationals as Phillips earns U21s nod – News". Crystal Palace F.C. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  9. ^ AFP. "Dubliner Killian Phillips starts for Crystal Palace in loss to Liverpool". The42. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Team news: Three debuts for Palace v Oxford – News". Crystal Palace F.C. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  11. ^ "OXFORD UNITED VS CRYSTAL PALACE". Soccerway.
  12. ^ "Killian Phillips joins Salop on loan from Crystal Palace". www.shrewsburytown.com. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Shrewsbury sign Palace midfielder Phillips on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Gallery | Awards Night 2022/23". www.shrewsburytown.com. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  15. ^ Westbury, Ollie (22 April 2023). "'Immense' Killian Phillips has been a real loan star for Shrewsbury". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Killian Phillips signs new contract and joins Wycombe on loan - News". Crystal Palace F.C. 11 August 2023.
  17. ^ Kelly, Niall (11 August 2023). "Ireland U21 Phillips agrees new Crystal Palace deal before League One loan". The 42.
  18. ^ "REPORT | Ireland U20s 0-1 Ireland Amateurs | Football Association of Ireland". fai.ie.
  19. ^ "SQUAD UPDATE | Burns, Phillips and McEntee join U21s squad | Football Association of Ireland". fai.ie.
  20. ^ "Republic of Ireland 2 – 1 Iceland | 2023 – Under-21 Mens Friendlies | 999948672 | Football Association of Ireland". fai.ie.
  21. ^ https://www.the42.ie/ireland-italy-u21-soccer-6228853-Nov2023/
  22. ^ a b c d e f g "Republic of Ireland – K. Phillips – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 5 August 2022.

External links