Liam Mark Kinsella (born 23 February 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Cheltenham Town. He has represented the Republic of Ireland at U19 level and U21 level.
Kinsella signed for Walsall as an eight-year-old and worked his way through various youth levels before signing his first professional contract in March 2014.[2][3] He made his senior debut against Bradford City on 16 August 2014, and was named man of the match in a 0–0 draw.[4]
He scored his first senior goal in a 2–0 win over Burton Albion in October 2015, to help Walsall leapfrog the Brewers to the top of the League One table.[5] Kinsella described the goal as "one of the best moments of my career so far".[2]
He was offered a new contract by Walsall at the end of the 2018–19 season.[6] In January 2021, he signed a new two-year contract.[7]
Kinsella was named as the club's Player of the Season in 2020–21 and 2021–22.[8]
He departed the club upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2022–23 season.[9]
Kinsella signed for Swindon Town on 28 July 2023, linking up again his former manager at Walsall, Michael Flynn.[10]
On 24 January 2024, Kinsella joined League One club Cheltenham Town on an eighteen-month contract, reuniting with former Walsall manager Darrell Clarke.[11]
On 2 June 2025, Kinsella signed a new one-year contract at Cheltenham, with the option of an additional year.[12]
Kinsella made his Republic of Ireland U19s debut on 25 February 2015, in a friendly match against Azerbaijan Under 19s. He was named in the starting eleven for the match at Tallaght Stadium.[13] His second appearance came just two days later in a 2–0 win against the same opposition at the same venue.[14]
He earned his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland U21s in September 2016,[15] and made his debut 12 months later against Azerbaijan U21s.[16]
His father is former Republic of Ireland international footballer Mark Kinsella.[16] His younger sister is Olympic gymnastics bronze medallist, Alice Kinsella.[17][18]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Walsall | 2014–15[19] | League One | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 2015–16[20] | League One | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2016–17[21] | League One | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2017–18[22] | League One | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| 2018–19[23] | League One | 31 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 39 | 1 | |
| 2019–20[24] | League Two | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[a] | 1 | 40 | 1 | |
| 2020–21[25] | League Two | 43 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 46 | 0 | |
| 2021–22[26] | League Two | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| 2022–23[27] | League Two | 37 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
| Total | 212 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 253 | 4 | ||
| Swindon Town | 2023–24[28] | League Two | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Cheltenham Town | 2023–24[29] | League One | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| 2024–25[30] | League Two | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
| 2025–26[31] | League Two | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| Total | 68 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 76 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 302 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 356 | 4 | ||
Individual
