Kevin Zefi

Zefi was born in Dublin and grew up in the Clonsilla area.{{Cite web|url=https://shamrockrovers.ie/academy-stars/|title=Academy Stars|website=Shamrock Rovers FC}} He attended Luttrellstown Community College. He is of Albanian descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-40792368.html|title=Teenage kicks: The latest generation of Irish gems providing hope for our football future|first=John|last=Fallon|date=25 January 2022|website=Irish Examiner}}

Zefi began his career with Shamrock Rovers. In 2020 he was linked with a transfer away from the club, with Italian club Inter Milan and Dutch club PSV said to be interested.{{Cite web|url=https://extra.ie/2020/07/26/sport/soccernews/kevin-zefi-inter-milan|title=Ireland underage and Shamrock Rovers star lined up for sensational Inter Milan move|date=26 July 2020|website=Extra.ie}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/sport/shamrock-rovers-starlet-kevin-zefi-17877850|title=Rovers starlet Zefi could be lured abroad by Dutch side PSV Eindhoven|first=Paul|last=O'Hehir|date=6 March 2020|website=DublinLive}}

He began his senior career with Shamrock Rovers II in the League of Ireland First Division in the 2020 season,{{Soccerway}} becoming the youngest ever scorer in the League of Ireland, at the age of 15 years 206 days.{{Cite web|url=https://www.balls.ie/football/kevin-zefi-446961|title=WATCH: 15-year-old Kevin Zefi of Shamrock Rovers is now the youngest scorer in LOI history|first=Paul|last=Moore|website=Balls.ie}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/15-year-old-on-target-in-shamrock-rovers-ii-win-5196191-Sep2020/|title=15-year-old on target in Shamrock Rovers II loss|first=The42|last=Team|website=The42|date=4 September 2020 }} He had also been Shamrock Rovers II's youngest ever player, until that record was beaten by 14-year-old Sam Curtis in October 2020.{{Cite web|url=http://www.extratime.ie/articles/25915/shamrock-rovers-give-first-start-to-14-year-old-sam-curtis-in-first-division/|title=Shamrock Rovers give first start to 14-year-old Sam Curtis in First Division|website=ExtraTime.ie}}

He moved to Italian club Inter Milan in August 2021.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/kevin-zefi-s-move-to-inter-milan-is-a-big-moment-for-the-teenager-and-irish-game-as-a-whole-njg72zg68|title=Kevin Zefi's move to Inter Milan is a big moment for the teenager and Irish game as a whole|first=Paul|last=Rowan|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/kevin-zefi-inter-milan-transfer-24932542|title=Kevin Zefi - Ireland wonderkid tipped for stardom after Inter Milan transfer|first=Mark|last=Taylor|date=7 September 2021|website=mirror}} In December 2021 he scored a hat-trick for Inter's youth team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishpost.com/sport/watch-16-year-old-dubliner-kevin-zefi-net-three-for-inter-milan-226842|title=Watch: 16-year-old Dubliner Kevin Zefi net three for Inter Milan|first=Conor|last=O'Donoghue|website=The Irish Post}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.balls.ie/football/kevin-zefi-hat-trick-inter-milan-495497|title=Watch: Ireland's Kevin Zefi Nets Eye-Catching Hat-Trick For Inter Milan|first=Gary|last=Connaughton|website=Balls.ie}}

In February 2022 he spoke positively about his move to Italy, encouraging other young Irish players to do the same.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/i-would-advise-people-to-go-kevin-zefi-blazing-a-trail-to-italy-for-irish-kids-to-follow-in-move-to-inter-milan-41347576.html|title='I would advise people to go' - Kevin Zefi blazing a trail to Italy for Irish kids to follow in move to Inter Milan|website=independent}}

In January 2024, Zefi joined fellow Italian club Roma on a permanent deal.{{Cite web |last=Canicchio |first=Lorenzo |date=13 January 2024 |title=Roma, ecco l'ufficialità. Dall'Inter arriva Kevin Zefi |url=https://www.gazzettaregionale.it/primavera/2024/01/13/news/roma-ecco-lufficialita-dallinter-arriva-kevin-zefi-155738/ |access-date=13 January 2024 |website=Gazzetta Regionale |language=it-IT}}{{Cite web |last=Cooney |first=Gavin |date=13 January 2024 |title=Kevin Zefi swaps Inter Milan for Roma, Rovers confirm return of Trevor Clarke |url=https://www.the42.ie/kevin-zefi-2-6271330-Jan2024/ |access-date=13 January 2024 |website=The 42}}

Zefi has played for the Republic of Ireland at under-15, under-17 and under-19 level.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/kevin-zefi-brace-helps-ireland-u15s-claim-victory-over-england-at-st-georges-park-38786863.html|title=Kevin Zefi brace helps Ireland U15s claim victory over England at St George's Park|website=independent}} In November 2024, he received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for their two friendlies against Sweden U21 in Marbella, Spain.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/latest/jim-crawford-names-under-21-squad-sweden-friendlies/|title=Jim Crawford names Under-21 squad for Sweden friendlies|website=www.fai.ie}}

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Category:2005 births

Category:Living people

Category:Irish people of Albanian descent

Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers

Category:Men's association football wingers

Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers

Category:League of Ireland players

Category:Shamrock Rovers F.C. players

Category:Inter Milan players

Category:AS Roma players

Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers

Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in Italy

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy

Category:Association footballers from Dublin (city)

Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen

Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers