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Arley Kay

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Arley Kay
Personal information
Full name Arley Wayne Kay[1]
Date of birth (2008-02-16) 16 February 2008 (age 18)[2]
Place of birth Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England[3]
Position Full-back[4]
Team information
Current team
 Barnsley
Number 2
Youth career
Everton
2015–2017 Tranmere Rovers
2017–2019 Bury
2019–2022 Crewe Alexandra
2024–2026 Barnsley
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2026– Barnsley 7 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11:41, 28 September 2026 (UTC)

Arley Wayne Kay (born 16 February 2008) is an English professional footballer who plays as a full-back for EFL League One club Barnsley. He is the son of former professional footballer Antony Kay.

A product of Barnsley's Academy, Kay signed his first professional contract in June 2026 after being named the club's Academy Player of the Season for 2025–26. He made his professional debut in August 2026 and became a regular in the first team during the opening weeks of the 2026–27 season. In August 2026, he was named Barnsley's Player of the Month.

Career

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Early career

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Kay began playing football with Everton's development programme at the age of five.[5] He later joined Tranmere Rovers, progressing from under-8 to under-9 level before the club's youth setup was closed.[5] He then spent two years with Bury,[5] before its academy was also closed.[5][3] Kay subsequently joined Crewe Alexandra, where he progressed from under-12 to under-14 level,[5] playing as a central midfielder.[3] His father, Antony, said Crewe were likely to release him, and that he withdrew Kay from the club because he felt Kay had not yet developed sufficiently at that stage.[3]

He then spent two years playing grassroots football in Liverpool,[5] which his father said helped toughen him up physically.[3] During his under-15 season, he spent four months on trial with Wigan Athletic, but was not offered a place.[5] Halfway through his under-16 season, Kay joined Barnsley on trial and was offered a scholarship.[5] He progressed through the club's youth ranks, becoming captain of the under-18 side and making appearances for the under-21s.[5]

Barnsley

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“From the first day he has improved every day in training. I trust him a lot. [...] He is a player who will surprise a lot in the season.”

— Daniel Stendel, discussing Kay's pre-season progress following his first professional contract, 4 August 2026[6]

Having completed his scholarship, Kay was retained by Barnsley at the end of the 2025–26 season and offered professional terms.[7][8] He subsequently signed his first professional contract with the club in June 2026,[5] agreeing to a one-year deal with an option for a second season.[3] During pre-season, Kay initially featured primarily at left-back before moving into central defence for the final friendly against Lincoln City.[6] His performances in both positions impressed manager Daniel Stendel, who praised his progress and versatility.[6]

Barnsley academy coach Bobby Hassell said Kay joined the academy as a central midfielder before being moved to centre-back due to competition for places in midfield.[9] Hassell said Kay initially struggled physically but, ahead of the 2026–27 season, worked with a sports scientist and in the gym to improve his physical development.[9] He praised Kay's decision-making, consistency and attitude, saying he had performed well at centre-back, right-back and left-back.[9] Hassell believed Kay would ultimately play at centre-back and compared him with John Stones in terms of quality, consistency and mindset.[9]

He made his professional debut on 8 August 2026, starting at right-back for Barnsley in their EFL Cup first-round match against Wigan Athletic.[10] After the interval, he moved to left-back, having started the match on the opposite flank.[11] The occasion carried added significance as he followed his father, Antony Kay, in making his professional debut for Barnsley.[11] A regular presence in League One soon followed, with Kay starting the club's opening seven fixtures,[12] while his adaptability was further demonstrated by a deployment in central defence during the EFL Cup second-round victory over Crewe Alexandra.[13][14]

His performances in August earned him Barnsley's Player of the Month award.[15] He also provided an attacking threat from defence, going close twice against Bromley with efforts from outside the penalty area, one of which was saved and another striking the crossbar.[16] On 15 September, he recorded his first assist for the first team when he set up Reyes Cleary for Barnsley's second goal in a 3–3 draw against Peterborough United in the EFL Cup.[17] He also converted his penalty in the subsequent shoot-out, which Barnsley lost 7–6.[18] Four days later, he assisted Cleary again for Barnsley's equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Leicester City.[19][20]

Personal life

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Kay is the son of former professional footballer Antony Kay.[5][9] His mother, Louise,[21] is a hair and makeup artist.[22] Kay's parents married in Mauritius in 2013, with Kay attending the wedding alongside his sisters Ella and Libby.[21] His three sisters, mother Louise, and extended family, including his aunts and uncles, regularly attend his matches to support him.[3] Away from football, Kay enjoys golf and padel.[5] In 2026, he completed a Level 3 BTEC, Sporting Excellence Professional qualification at Distinction level and UEFA C coaching qualification as part of Barnsley's 2024–26 scholarship cohort.[23]

Career statistics

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As of match played on 6 October 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barnsley 2026–27[24] League One 7000301[a]0110
Career total 70003010110
  1. ↑ One appearance in EFL Trophy

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ↑ "EFL Squad List 2026/27" (PDF). English Football League. 8 September 2026. p. 53. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  2. ↑ "Arley Kay". Premier League. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 O'Kane, Doug (2 October 2026). "Barnsley best place for Arley as deal talks open, says father". Barnsley Chronicle. Retrieved 2 October 2026.
  4. ↑ "Arley Kay". barnsleyfc.co.uk. Barnsley Football Club. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Arley Kay on signing professional contract". barnsleyfc.co.uk. Barnsley F.C. 17 June 2026. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "'We have a long way in front of us' - Stendel". Barnsley Chronicle. Barnsley Chronicle. 4 August 2026. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  7. ↑ "Retained List 2026". barnsleyfc.co.uk. Barnsley F.C. 17 May 2026. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  8. ↑ Rayner, Stuart. "Barnsley FC: Daniel Stendel could inherit nine senior players with David McGoldrick in contract talks". Yorkshire Post. Iconic Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 2 October 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 O'Kane, Doug (4 October 2026). "A look at new academy kids in England's youngest team". Barnsley Chronicle. Retrieved 4 October 2026.
  10. ↑ "Debutant goalkeeper secures cup shoot-out win". Barnsley Chronicle. 8 August 2026. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Talking points from cup win". Barnsley Chronicle. 8 August 2026. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  12. ↑ "2026–2027 Arley Kay League One Match Logs". FBref. Sports Reference. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  13. ↑ "Barnsley 3–2 Crewe Alexandra". English Football League. 25 August 2026. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  14. ↑ "Arley Kay EFL Cup Match Logs (2026–2027)". FBref. Sports Reference. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Arley Kay named August Player of the Month". barnsleyfc.co.uk. Barnsley F.C. 9 September 2026. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  16. ↑ "Barnsley 0–1 Bromley". Sporting Life. Hestview Ltd. 15 August 2026. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  17. ↑ "Reds knocked out of Carabao Cup on penalties". barnsleyfc.co.uk. Barnsley Football Club. 15 September 2026. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  18. ↑ "Peterborough United 3–3 Barnsley". Sky Sports. Sky UK Limited. 15 September 2026. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  19. ↑ "Barnsley 2–2 Leicester City". Sky Sports. Sky UK Limited. 19 September 2026. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  20. ↑ "Foxes Frustrated At Barnsley". lcfc.com. Leicester City F.C. 19 September 2026. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  21. 1 2 Thomson, Doug (10 July 2013). "Antony Kay happy to be with Huddersfield Town for two more years". Huddersfield Examiner. Reach plc. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  22. ↑ "Mr & Mrs Barry's Inn on the Lake Wedding". lakedistricthotels.net. Lake District Hotels. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  23. ↑ "Barnsley FC Academy Stars Celebrate BTEC Success on Results Day". barnsleyfc.co.uk. Barnsley F.C. 14 August 2026. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
  24. ↑ "Games played by Arley Kay in 2026/2027". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  25. ↑ "Kay delighted with Oakwell opportunity after impressive display". barnsleyfc.co.uk. Barnsley F.C. 2 August 2026. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
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