Keyendrah Simmonds
{{Short description|English footballer (born 2001)}}
{{use British English|date=August 2021}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Keyendrah Simmonds
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname = Keyendrah Qwamalik Tegan Simmonds{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/1697050 |title=Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists |publisher=Premier League |date=26 June 2020 |access-date=30 January 2021}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|5|31|df=y}}
|birth_place = Manchester, England
|height =
|position = Forward
|currentclub = Vukovar 1991
|clubnumber =
|youthyears1 = 2009–2021
|youthclubs1 = Manchester City
|years1 = 2021–2023
|clubs1 = Birmingham City
|caps1 = 1
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2022–2023
|clubs2 = → Grimsby Town (loan)
|caps2 = 8
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2024–
|clubs3 = Vukovar 1991
|caps3 = 12
|goals3 = 0
|nationalyears1 =
|nationalteam1 = England U15
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
|nationalyears2 = 2018
|nationalteam2 = England U18
|nationalcaps2 = 5
|nationalgoals2 = 1
|club-update = 17:25, 8 December 2024 (UTC)
}}
Keyendrah Qwamalik Tegan Simmonds (born 31 May 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Prva NL club Vukovar 1991.
Simmonds was at Manchester City from the age of eight until February 2021, when he signed for Birmingham City. He spent the first half of the 2022–23 season on loan at League Two club Grimsby Town, and was released by Birmingham at the end of that season. He joined Vukovar 1991 in June 2024.
Club career
=Manchester City=
Simmonds was born in 2001 in Manchester, and joined Manchester City at the age of eight;{{cite web |url=https://www.mancity.com/players/keyendrah-simmonds |title=Keyendrah Simmonds |publisher=Manchester City F.C. |access-date=30 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120230237/https://www.mancity.com/players/keyendrah-simmonds |archive-date=20 January 2021}} his older brother, Okera, was a member of Liverpool's academy.{{cite web |url=https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/academy/256874-meet-the-academy-okera-simmonds |title=Meet the Academy: Okera Simmonds |first=Sam |last=Williams |publisher=Liverpool F.C. |date=17 March 2017 |access-date=7 August 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jurgen-klopp-watches-liverpool-under-13968274 |title=Jurgen Klopp watches Liverpool Under-18s battle to Manchester City draw – but who impressed? |first=Andy |last=Kelly |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=28 November 2017 |access-date=7 August 2021}} He took up a scholarship with Manchester City in 2017,{{cite web |url=https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/july-2017.ashx |title=List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2017 and 31/07/2017 |publisher=The Football Association |page=59 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629115712/http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/july-2017.ashx |archive-date=29 June 2019}} and in his second year, played and scored regularly for City's under-18 team in the U18 Premier League 2 and appeared twice in the UEFA Youth League.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/keke-simmonds/2/ |title=Keke Simmonds: Club matches |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HeimSpiel Medien |access-date=25 May 2021}} Interviewed in September 2019, he said that Ronaldinho was his childhood idol, that he looked up to and took advice from Raheem Sterling, that he had trained with City's first team,{{cite web |url=https://versus.uk.com/2019/09/play-without-limits-meet-young-ballers-tipped-takeover-manchester-city/ |title=Play Without Limits: Meet the young ballers tipped for takeover at Manchester City |first=Corey |last=Pellatt |website=Versus |date=23 September 2019 |access-date=7 August 2021}} and that his progress had been interrupted by spells of injury.{{cite web |url=https://www.mancity.com/news/academy/match-report/2019/march/middlesbrough-u18s-v-city-premier-league-match-report |title=Young Blues stunned by Boro comeback |first=Caroline |last=Oatway |publisher=Manchester City F.C. |date=23 March 2019 |access-date=7 August 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240604092404/https://www.mancity.com/news/academy/match-report/2019/march/middlesbrough-u18s-v-city-premier-league-match-report |archive-date=4 June 2024 |url-status=live |quote=The clash marked a welcome return to action for Keke Simmonds, who had been sidelined with injury and was introduced from the bench in the second period.}}
Simmonds made his debut in open-age football for Manchester City U21 in December 2019 in the 2019–20 EFL Trophy away to Shrewsbury Town. He came on as a 68th-minute substitute (association football), missed chances to score the winning goal, and converted his penalty as City won the shootout 6–5.{{cite news |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2019/12/03/efl-trophy-shrewsbury-town-1-man-city-u21s-1-5-6-pens-report/ |title=EFL Trophy: Shrewsbury Town 1 Man City U21s 1 (5–6 pens) |first=Lewis |last=Cox |newspaper=Shropshire Star |date=3 December 2019 |access-date=7 August 2021}} With one year left on his City contract, there was interest from Premier League and Championship clubs in signing Simmonds,{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/sheffield-wednesday-and-sheffield-united-battle-it-out-manchester-city-youngster-keyendrah-simmonds-2930490 |title=Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United to battle it out for Manchester City youngster Keyendrah Simmonds? |first=Joe |last=Crann |newspaper=The Star |location=Sheffield |date=1 August 2020 |access-date=7 August 2021}} but no move took place. He scored a late goal against Lincoln City to confirm City as winners of their group in the 2020–21 EFL Trophy,{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-gomes-lavia-fernandinho-19298307 |title=Man City have two more exciting defensive midfielders coming through the ranks |first=Joe |last=Bray |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=18 November 2020 |access-date=7 August 2021}} but came no closer to first-team football.
=Birmingham City=
Simmonds signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Championship club Birmingham City on 1 February 2021.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55890385 |title=Keyendrah Simmonds and Yan Valery: Birmingham City sign duo |website=BBC Sport |date=1 February 2021 |access-date=7 August 2021}} Manager Aitor Karanka said he would initially be a development squad player while training with the first team.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/massive-ex-man-city-teen-19819935 |title='Massive' - Ex-Man City teen impressing with Birmingham City first team squad |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=11 February 2021 |access-date=7 August 2021}} He did not appear in the senior matchday squad until 8 May, when new manager Lee Bowyer selected numerous fringe players for the final match of the season, away to Blackburn Rovers.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-city-product-given-first-20554037 |title=Manchester City product given first Birmingham City call-up against Blackburn Rovers |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=8 May 2021 |access-date=7 August 2021}} Birmingham lost 5–2, and Simmonds replaced Amari Miller after 78 minutes to make his Football League debut.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-player-ratings-vs-20554239 |title=Birmingham City player ratings vs Blackburn: Blues struggle in Bowyer's absence |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=8 May 2021 |access-date=7 August 2021}} He scored three goals from nine appearances for the under-23s, helped them finish as runners-up in the Professional Development League Northern Section, and starred in the play-off final, as Birmingham beat Sheffield United U23 to win the overall title and gain promotion to Premier League 2 for 2021–22.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-man-city-transfers-simmonds-20672614 |title='Snake hips' – The Man City product who could save Birmingham City millions |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=25 May 2021 |access-date=7 August 2021}}
On 1 September 2022, Simmonds joined Grimsby Town on loan until January 2023.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62760477 |title=Alex Hunt, Lewis Richardson and Keyendrah Simmonds: Grimsby Town sign Sheffield Wednesday midfielder and Burnley and Birmingham forwards |website=BBC Sport |date=1 September 2022 |access-date=2 September 2022}} He made his debut two days later as a 71st-minute substitute in a 2–0 win away to Newport County; according to the Grimsby Telegraph, he "got about the pitch well when he came on, but did not have a huge involvement."{{cite news |url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/grimsby-town-player-ratings-mariners-7543297 |title=Grimsby Town player ratings as Mariners turn in well-rounded team performance in Newport win |first=Sam |last=Allen |website=Grimsby Live |date=3 September 2022 |access-date=17 January 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230117093547/https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/grimsby-town-player-ratings-mariners-7543297 |archive-date=17 January 2023 |url-status=live}} Simmonds scored Grimsby's only goal in a 1–1 draw with his former club, Manchester City U21, in the EFL Trophy group stage, which Grimsby won on penalties to progress to the round of 32.{{cite news |url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/grimsby-town-through-papa-johns-7798882 |title=Grimsby Town through in Papa John's Trophy thanks to shootout success against Man City U21s |first=Sam |last=Allen |newspaper=Grimsby Telegraph |date=8 November 2022 |access-date=17 January 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230117085041/https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/grimsby-town-through-papa-johns-7798882 |archive-date=17 January 2023 |url-status=live}} He played eight times in the league, starting only once and without scoring, before returning to Birmingham in January 2023.{{cite news |url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/keyendrah-simmonds-birmingham-city-return-8009455 |title=Keke Simmonds set for Birmingham return after uneventful Town loan move |newspaper=Grimsby Telegraph |date=9 January 2023 |access-date=17 January 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230117092355/https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/keyendrah-simmonds-birmingham-city-return-8009455 |archive-date=17 January 2023 |url-status=live}}
Simmonds was one of 13 professionals released at the end of the 2022–23 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/retained-and-released-list-2023 |title=Blues Men's: Retained and released list |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=22 May 2023 |access-date=1 July 2023}}
=Vukovar 1991=
Simmonds signed for Prva NL (Croatian second-tier) club Vukovar 1991 in June 2024.{{cite news |url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/hnl/druga-hnl/bivsi-igrac-manchester-cityja-stize-u-hrvatskog-drugoligasa-trenirao-je-sa-sterlingom-15467723 |title=Bivši igrač Manchester Cityja stiže u hrvatskog drugoligaša: 'Trenirao je sa Sterlingom' |language=hr |trans-title=Former Manchester City player joins the Croatian second division: 'He trained with Sterling' |newspaper=Sportske novosti |date=3 June 2024 |access-date=4 June 2024}}
International career
Simmonds represented England at under-15 level, and was called up for the under-18s in September 2018 for the Limoges Tournament.{{cite web |url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2018/aug/30/england-u18-squad-limoges-310818 |title=England U18s squad named for Limoges Tournament in France |publisher=The Football Association (The FA) |date=31 August 2018 |access-date=7 August 2021}} He played in all three matches, and scored in the second, a 3–0 win against Russia.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/keke-simmonds/u18-h-freundschaft-2018/england-u18-h-team/3/ |title=Keke Simmonds: U18 friendlies 2018 |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HeimSpiel Medien |access-date=7 August 2021}} He kept his place for two matches against Sweden and the Czech Republic in October.{{cite web |url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2018/oct/05/england-u18s-squad-sweden-czech-republic-041018 |title=England U18s squad named to face Sweden and Czech Republic at St. George's Park |publisher=The FA |date=4 October 2018 |access-date=7 August 2021}}
Career statistics
{{updated|end of 2022–23 season}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|EFL Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=3|Manchester City U21
|2019–20{{soccerbase season|115445|2019|accessdate=28 July 2022}} |colspan=1|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 2{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21
|colspan=1|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||3||1||3||1 | ||||||||||
| rowspan=4|Birmingham City
|2020–21{{soccerbase season|115445|2020|access-date=26 August 2021}} |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22{{soccerbase season|115445|2021|access-date=8 May 2022}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!1||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||2||0 | ||||||||||
| Grimsby Town (loan)
|2022–23{{soccerbase season|115445|2022|access-date=23 May 2023}} |8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 1 | 13 | 1 | |
| colspan=3|Career total
!9||0||2||0||1||0||6||2||18||2 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerway|keyendrah-simmonds/453124}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simmonds, Keyendrah}}
Category:Footballers from Manchester
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Manchester City F.C. players
Category:Birmingham City F.C. players
Category:Grimsby Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:21st-century Black British people
Category:HNK Vukovar 1991 players
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Croatia
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Croatia