Doncaster Rovers have officially announced the season-long loan signing of Patrick Kelly, a talented midfielder from West Ham United. The 19-year-old arrives with a wealth of experience and potential, having spent a significant portion of the summer training alongside West Ham’s first team, including participating in their pre-season tour across the United States.
Patrick Kelly’s Journey to Doncaster Rovers
Kelly’s journey to the London Stadium began in 2022, after making an early breakthrough into the first team at his boyhood club, Coleraine, in Northern Ireland. At just 16, he had already established himself as a promising talent, which led to his move to West Ham. Now, with a couple of years of development under his belt, Kelly is eager to make an impact at the senior level with Doncaster Rovers.
Reflecting on his move, Kelly expressed his enthusiasm:
“I’ve been looking to get out on loan for a while now and I think that I’ve found the right club so I’m really happy to be here,” he said. “The gaffer spoke with me and my agent while I was out in America with West Ham last week, and everything he said was appealing to me about the style of play and where he sees me playing. There was the club as a whole and just a lot of reasons why I chose Doncaster.”
Kelly’s versatility and skill set are expected to be valuable assets for the Rovers’ midfield, offering the team flexibility in their playing style. He has been recognized for his contributions at various levels for Northern Ireland, up to the U21 level, and played a pivotal role in the West Ham U18 side that clinched both the FA Youth Cup and the U18 Premier League South title during the 2022/23 season.
Following these achievements, he progressed to the U21 team, which secured a second-place finish in Premier League 2 last season.
Grant McCann’s Vision for Kelly at Doncaster
Doncaster Rovers’ manager Grant McCann shared his excitement about securing Kelly’s services:
“We’re delighted to get PK. He’s a lad we’ve watched a lot of and we had to wait patiently as he’s been with the West Ham first team all of pre-season,” McCann said. “He’s capable of playing in the six or eight in our midfield—very much in the mould of Matty Craig. He’s flourished at U21 level with Northern Ireland and has been drafted into training camps with the senior team.”
McCann emphasized Kelly’s all-around abilities, describing him as an “all-action type” who excels on the ball, can press effectively, and has the knack for beating opponents—qualities that will add significant competition and depth to the Rovers’ midfield. The manager also extended his gratitude to West Ham’s Mark Noble, Steve Potts, and Kenny Brown for their confidence in allowing Kelly to develop at Doncaster.
During his time with Doncaster Rovers, Patrick Kelly will be donning the number 22 shirt, and fans will be eager to see how he integrates into the squad and contributes to the team’s ambitions for the upcoming season.