Ronan Kpakio
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ronan Sahr Kpakio[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 25 May 2007[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Swansea, Wales | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Cardiff City | ||
| Number | 44 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2015–2024 | Cardiff City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024– | Cardiff City | 3 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Wales U16 | 5 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | Wales U17 | 13 | (1) |
| 2024– | Wales U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2024– | Wales U19 | 5 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:08, 3 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:10, 29 December 2024 (UTC) | |||
Ronan Sahr Kpakio (born 25 May 2007) is a Welsh footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Cardiff City.
Club career
Kpakio joined Cardiff City aged eight,[4] signing a first professional contract in July 2024.[5]
Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Kpakio featured for the first-team during pre-season, particularly impressing during a 7–1 thrashing of Penybont where he registered two assists.[6] On 13 August 2024, he was handed a senior professional debut, playing the duration of an EFL Cup First Round victory over Bristol Rovers.[7][8] In December 2024, he made his Championship debut as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 defeat to Sheffield United due to a number of injuries in the right-back area of the squad.[9][10]
International career
After earning caps at youth level for Wales, Kpakio was given a place in the senior team squad by manager Craig Bellamy, aged just 18, ahead of the national side's FIFA World Cup qualification games against Liechtenstein and Belgium in June 2025. At the time of his call-up, Kpakio had made just 6 senior professional appearances.[11]
Personal life
Born in Wales, Kpakio is of Zimbabwean descent.[12]
Career statistics
- As of match played 3 May 2025
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cardiff City | 2024–25[13] | Championship | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | |
| Career total | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
References
- ^ "EFL - Squad List 2024/25" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ^ Ronan Kpakio at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ https://www.premierleague.com/players/147846/Ronan-Kpakio/overview
- ^ "U18 | 2023/24 First Year Scholars". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ "Young Bluebirds sign contracts with Cardiff City". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ Williams, Glen (17 July 2024). "The unknown Cardiff City teenager who just wowed in pre-season match". Wales Online. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ "Match Report | Cardiff City 2–0 Bristol Rovers". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ Williams, Glen (13 August 2024). "Cardiff City player ratings v Bristol Rovers as debutants impress as sub makes big difference". Wales Online. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ "Cardiff City 0–2 Sheffield United". BBC Sport. 21 December 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ Williams, Glen (23 December 2024). "Tonight's Cardiff City news as appointment imminent and teenage prospect praised after debut". Wales Online. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ "World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Cardiff City's Ronan Kpakio in Wales squad". BBC Sport. 28 May 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ projects, Webdev-Fintech web (7 July 2024). "Rising Welsh-Zimbabwean striker Tanatswa Nyakuhwa signs professional contract with Cardiff City".
- ^ "Games played by Ronan Kpakio in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 December 2024.