Kerry FC top-scorer Ryan Kelliher named on PFAI Transfer List

With just the promotion/relegation play-off final to be decided in the League of Ireland, the curtain is beginning to fall on Irish club football for 2024 and thus, the opening of the transfer window.

On Monday morning, as is common to start the process, the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland released their transfer list, which by the afternoon featured eleven Kerry FC players, including the under-contract Ryan Kelliher.

The list does not necessarily mean players have departed the club, or are guaranteed to leave, however, it is optional for the players themselves to feature, which in turn notifies other clubs of their potential interest to seek new opportunities elsewhere.

From a Kerry perspective, the list was not what fans would have wanted to see Monday, as the Kingdom's eleven players was the most featured by any side across both tiers of the men's LOI on release day.

The standout name on the list was of course that of Killarney man Ryan Kelliher, who is notably under contract with the Kingdom until 2025, having signed that extension in August of 2023.

There was no doubt amongst fans of the club though that Kelliher would not be of interest to several clubs around Ireland, having scored 17 goals in all competitions for Kerry in 2024.

In particular, his two goals against Bohemians in the FAI Cup would've caught the eye of the bigger clubs in the country especially, as the ability to find the net against top-tier teams is always a worry when a player takes the step up the league system.

The other ten Kerry FC players listed also see a number of the club's other top talents potentially looking for a change. Featured on the list are Antonio Tuta, Samuel Aladesanusi, Ethan Kos, Seán O'Connell, 2024 captain Andy Spain, Graham O'Reilly, Daniel Okwute, Togor Silong, Ronan Teahan and Cian Brosnan.

Ronan Teahan's name was not featured in the initial publication but was an addition later on in the day. Teahan, like Kelliher, is another Kerry FC player who is under contract until next season but despite signing last September did spend some time in the UK on trial with a couple of clubs and will be considering his options once more as he looks to establish himself in the professional game.

A player every fan would love to see stay is Seán O'Connell, with the South Kerry man featuring at left back in every single Kerry FC First Division game this season and is in the majority of fans' shortlist for Kerry FC player of the season, but as a result, will be highly sought after.

The list includes eight of the top ten appearance makers for Kerry FC in 2024, the exceptions being Seán McGrath who like Kelliher also put pen to paper until the end of next season, and Nathan Gleeson.

Those eight players featured 30+ times in the calendar year for Kerry and you can throw Aladesanusi into the list of first-team regulars having made 27 appearances, but missed the end of the campaign through injury.

With the other two players listed, Togor Silong was included in matchday squads fairly regularly this season, but apart from an appearance in a friendly against the Munster FA in September, did not feature competitively and spent most of his time playing for the Under 20 side.

Graham O'Reilly is the final name to mention, with his appearance on the list coming as a surprise to some as the Wexford native departed the club mid-season, although never officially, and has been playing KDL Premier A football with Killarney Celtic in recent weeks.

O'Reilly was included in the Kerry Oscar Traynor Cup panel last week, but his feature on the list would imply he is still open to a return to League of Ireland football next season.

This route has proved effective in recent times with ex-Kerry FC striker Trpimir Vrljičak earning a move to Treaty United mid-season after an impressive stint also with Killarney Celtic in the KDL.

Among the few other ex-Kerry FC players floating around the league, just one features on the list. Tralee native Leo Gaxha departed Kerry for Galway United after last season and after not managing to break into the first team returned to the First Division to play for Athlone Town four months ago. Gaxha found the net four times in his twelve league appearances since late July.

As the next two months progress, names will come and go from the list across all the clubs whether that be from completed transfers or opting to stay with their current club, and there is no doubt Kerry FC coaches Conor McCarthy and James Sugrue will be paying close attention to it as they look to address key areas of their squad, including the push for more experience as Sugrue noted was top priority after the Kingdom wrapped up their league campaign last month.