Khiara Ilhaan Keating (born 27 June 2004) is an English professional footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Women's Super League club Manchester City and the England national team. She has previously played on loan for AFC Fylde and Coventry United.

Khiara Keating
Keating playing for Coventry United in 2023
Personal information
Full name Khiara Keating
Date of birth (2004-06-27) 27 June 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Ardwick, Manchester, England
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Manchester City
Number 35
Youth career
0000–2015 Manchester United
2015–2022 Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Manchester City 30 (0)
2021AFC Fylde (loan) 7 (0)
2023Coventry United (loan) 4 (0)
International career
2019 England U15 1 (0)
2021–2022 England U19 9 (0)
2022–2023 England U23 0 (0)
2023– England 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:30, 9 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 December 2023

Early life

edit

Keating grew up in Ardwick, Manchester, where her mother set up a team for her to play in, initially as a striker. She trialed for Manchester United as a goalkeeper at 6 years-old. Keating played for Manchester United until the age of 11, before moving across to the City academy.[1]

Club career

edit

Keating made appearances on the bench for Manchester City, during the 2020–21 season, before being loaned out to National League North's AFC Fylde at the start of the next season.[2]

Due to a long injury list at Manchester City however she was recalled after a short period and a few appearances as cover for more senior players. She made her debut for the side on 12 January 2022, starting in a FA Women's League Cup against Leicester City.[3] A few days later on 16 January 2022 she made her league debut with 90 minutes against Aston Villa.[4]

In January 2023, Keating joined Coventry United on loan until the end of the 2022–23 Women's Championship season,[5] making four appearances in total of the club.[6]

2023–2024

edit

In October 2023, she was nominated for WSL Player of the Month for the 2023–2024 season. In November, she signed a three-year extension with City, after starting in the first six games of the season, describing her breakthrough as surreal.[7][8]

As of December 2023, Keating had the third-highest save percentage of the league for the season, and according to Goal.com, is part of an entirely new generation of goalkeepers.[1] She has become City's first-choice goalkeeper after displacing Ellie Roebuck.[9][10]

In the fifth round of the 2023–24 FA Cup against Arsenal on 11 February 2024, Keating provided a "worldie" performance.[11] Her series of saves were met with critical acclaim,[12] being described as a hero,[13] and playing a starring role to secure a 1–0 victory.[14]

Keating became the youngest goalkeeper to win the WSL Golden Glove, keeping 9 clean sheets in total.[15] She finished the season with the most minutes played for an English under-21 year old in the WSL season, helping to successfully gain a call up to the senior squad.[16]

International career

edit

She made one appearance for England under-15's and made her debut for the under 19 side in 2022 U-19 Championship qualification against the Republic of Ireland on 20 October 2021, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0.[17] In summer of 2022, she went on to feature as the first choice goalkeeper in the group stage of the final tournament.[18] In October 2022, Keating played in 2023 U-19 Championship qualification with the under 19s, keeping a clean sheet against Slovenia.[19][20]

On 25 August 2022, Keating was named as part of the England under-23 squad for a fixture against Norway,[21] where she was as unused substitute keeper.[22] In September 2023, Keating was again an unused substitute in the U23 European League against Norway and Belgium.[23][24]

Keating received her first senior call-up on 17 October 2023 for a pair of UEFA Women's Nations League matches against Belgium.[25]

Personal life

edit

On 23 July 2024, Keating appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court, alongside her mother Nicola, charged with possession of a Class C drug namely canisters of nitrous oxide. Both women pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned until a further hearing at the same court on 10 September.[26][27] At that second hearing both women confirmed their not guilty pleas and a trial date was set for 17 November 2025.[28]

Career statistics

edit

Club

edit
As of match played 21 November 2024[6]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester City 2020–21 Women's Super League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021–22 Women's Super League 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 0
2022–23 Women's Super League 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2023–24 Women's Super League 22 0 3 0 4 0 29 0
2024–25 Women's Super League 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 5 0
Total 30 0 3 0 6 0 3 0 42 0
AFC Flyde (loan) 2021–22 Women's National League North 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Coventry United (loan) 2022–23 Championship 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Career total 41 0 3 0 6 0 3 0 53 0

Honours

edit

Manchester City

Individual

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Ruszkai, Ameé (1 December 2023). "Khiara Keating: How the England teenager usurped two Lionesses to become Manchester City's No.1 and earn a first call-up from Sarina Wiegman to back-up Mary Earps | Goal.com India". www.goal.com. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Fylde Women look forward to returning home". Blackpool Gazette. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Leicester City Women 0–5 Manchester City Women". BBC News. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Stanway at the double as City conquer Villa". Manchester City W.F.C. 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  5. ^ Kelsey, George (13 January 2023). "Keating joins Coventry United on loan". Manchester City.
  6. ^ a b "England- K. Keating - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  7. ^ Medlicott, Phil (18 November 2023). "Khiara Keating surprised by her rise into Man City's starting line-up this term". The Independent. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Man City's Keating signs three-year contract extension". BBC Sport. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  9. ^ Morgan, Chloe (22 December 2023). "Khiara Keating discusses her rapid rise - and being Mary Earps' 'annoying little sister'". The Athletic. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  10. ^ Lindop, Beth (11 February 2024). "What Man City players did after win speaks volumes about 'excellent' star". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  11. ^ Cootes, Isobel (11 February 2024). "Arsenal bow out of FA Cup after Man City young star's 'worldie' stint". Optus Sport. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  12. ^ Southby, Ben (11 February 2024). "Women's FA Cup: Khiara Keating stars as Manchester City beat Arsenal, Mayra Ramirez scores as Chelsea progress". TNT Sports. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  13. ^ Wrack, Suzanne (11 February 2024). "Khiara Keating the hero as Manchester City knock Arsenal out of FA Cup". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Super saves & lucky breaks - Keating shines for Man City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Man City's Keating wins Golden Glove as Shaw takes Golden Boot". BBC Sport. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  16. ^ Toloui, Anton (19 September 2024). "Leicester Women's Ruby Mace: It's time to show what I can do after leaving Man City Women". Sky News.
  17. ^ "Republic of Ireland 0–1 WU19s". The FA. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  18. ^
  19. ^ "England-Slovenia | Women's Under-19 2023". UEFA.com. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  20. ^ Veevers, Nicholas (5 October 2022). "Report: England WU19s 5-0 Slovenia". England Football. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  21. ^ "England WU23s squad to face Norway". England Football. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Norway 1-2 England WU23s". England Football. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  23. ^ McHugh, Beth (21 September 2023). "Report: Norway 1-1 England WU23s". England Football. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  24. ^ Smith, Frank (25 September 2023). "Report: England WU23s 3-0 Belgium". England Football. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  25. ^ Sanders, Emma (17 October 2023). "Women's Nations League: Fran Kirby back for England after knee surgery". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Manchester City's Khiara Keating appears in court on nitrous oxide charge". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  27. ^ "England goalkeeper denies nitrous oxide possession charge". BBC News. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  28. ^ "England Lioness footballer pleads not guilty to possessing 'hippy crack' drug". The Mirror. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  29. ^ Kelsey, George (27 May 2023). "Women's End of Season awards: Winners revealed". Manchester City. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  30. ^ Cox, Sam (29 February 2024). "Keating named February Player of the Month". Manchester City F.C. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  31. ^ "PFA WSL Team of the Year". Professional Footballers' Association. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
edit