Caoimhin Kelleher: Biography, Stats & Brentford Career

There aren’t many goalkeepers who move from Anfield’s bench to being a Premier League starter without making much noise. Caoimhin Kelleher has done exactly that – quietly stacking clean sheets, winning penalty shootouts, and becoming Brentford’s number one after a decade at Liverpool. This article breaks down his age, height, pronunciation, career stats, salary, and personal life, backed by official club records and league data.

Age: 27 (born 23 November 1998) ·
Height: 1.88 m ·
Current club: Brentford ·
Position: Goalkeeper ·
Premier League appearances: 62 ·
Clean sheets (Premier League): 18

Seven key details form the factual spine of Kelleher’s career dossier:

How old is Caoimhin Kelleher and what are his physical stats?

Date of birth and place of birth

Caoimhin Kelleher was born on 23 November 1998 in Cork, Ireland (Transfermarkt). That makes him 27 years old as of the 2025–26 season. He grew up in Cork and played youth football for Ringmahon Rangers before being scouted by Liverpool.

The pattern: a player who spent his entire developmental years in one city, then moved to one of Europe’s biggest clubs at 16.

Height and position

Kelleher stands 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) and plays as a goalkeeper (Transfermarkt). Interestingly, he played as a striker until age 14 before switching to goalkeeper – a decision that ultimately defined his career (Liverpool FC). His preferred foot is right (Transfermarkt).

Nationality and international career

Kelleher represents the Republic of Ireland at senior level. He made his international debut after progressing through the youth ranks (Transfermarkt). As of the 2025–26 season, he has earned multiple caps and is competing for the number‑one jersey.

How do you pronounce Caoimhin Kelleher?

Phonetic breakdown

The name Caoimhin is pronounced kee-VEEN – a standard Irish name with a silent C. Kelleher is pronounced ke-LEH-her. Together: kee-VEEN ke-LEH-her. This is the accepted pronunciation used by broadcasters and club media.

Common mispronunciations

English speakers often try “Kway-vin” or “Koh-vin”. The correct Irish Gaelic pronunciation keeps the first syllable short (“kee”) and the second stressed (“VEEN”). The origin: Caoimhin is a diminutive of the Irish name Caoimhín, meaning “kind” or “gentle”.

What is Caoimhin Kelleher’s career at Liverpool and Brentford?

Liverpool academy and senior debut

Kelleher joined Liverpool’s academy from Ringmahon Rangers in summer 2015 (Liverpool FC). He rose through the U18 and U23 sides before making his senior competitive debut in a 2‑0 Carabao Cup win away at Milton Keynes Dons in September 2019 (Brentford FC).

• Total senior appearances for Liverpool: 67 (Liverpool FC)
• Premier League debut: 2022 (Premier League)

The pattern: Kelleher spent seven years at Liverpool, mostly as understudy to Alisson, yet still accumulated 67 senior appearances and a reputation as a penalty‑shootout specialist.

Cups and European appearances

Kelleher was Liverpool’s primary cup goalkeeper during his tenure. He notably started the 2022 Carabao Cup final, saving two penalties in the shootout to secure the trophy (Brentford FC). In the 2024‑25 Champions League, he denied Kylian Mbappé from the penalty spot (Brentford FC). His four penalty‑shootout wins are the most by any goalkeeper in Liverpool’s history (Brentford FC).

Transfer to Brentford

Kelleher departed Anfield in June 2025, joining Brentford (Liverpool FC). The transfer fee was not publicly disclosed, but the move gave him the first‑choice goalkeeper role he had long sought.

2025/26 season performance

After the move, Kelleher quickly established himself as Brentford’s number one. His Premier League record stands at 62 appearances and 18 clean sheets across his entire top‑flight career (Premier League). By the 2026‑27 season, the Premier League still tracks him as a Brentford goalkeeper, confirming his status as a regular starter.

What is Caoimhin Kelleher’s salary and contract details?

Reported weekly wages

Exact salary figures are not publicly available. Brentford does not disclose individual player wages, and Kelleher’s previous Liverpool contract was never officially confirmed by the club. Based on typical Premier League backup and first‑choice goalkeeper wages, estimates suggest a weekly wage in the range of £25,000–£50,000, but these remain unverified.

Contract length and transfer fee

Brentford has not released the length of Kelleher’s contract or the transfer fee. Given the club’s policy of keeping financial terms private, any specific numbers online are speculative.

The catch: until Brentford publishes contract details, any claim about Kelleher’s earnings remains guesswork.

Does Caoimhin Kelleher have a wife or baby?

Personal life privacy

Kelleher keeps his personal life out of the public eye. There is no confirmed information about a wife, girlfriend, or children. He has not made any public statements on the matter.

Social media hints

His Instagram account (@caoimhinkelleher98) occasionally features training and match photos but no family content. Following his Premier League debut, he posted: “Unreal win and team performance today proud to make my PL debut but most importantly” (Instagram). The post suggests a focus on football rather than personal life.

The implication: readers searching for “Caoimhin Kelleher baby” or “Caoimhin Kelleher wife” will find no verified evidence – the goalkeeper values his privacy.

Career timeline

• 23 November 1998 – Born in Cork, Ireland (Transfermarkt)
• 2015 – Joined Liverpool academy from Ringmahon Rangers (Liverpool FC)
• 2019 – Senior debut for Liverpool in Carabao Cup (Brentford FC)
• 2022 – Premier League debut; Carabao Cup final heroics (penalty shootout) (Brentford FC)
• 2025 – Transferred to Brentford (Liverpool FC)
• 2025/26 season – First‑choice goalkeeper at Brentford; 62 Premier League appearances, 18 clean sheets (Premier League)

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

“Unreal win and team performance today proud to make my PL debut but most importantly”

– Caoimhin Kelleher, via Instagram (Instagram)

For the Republic of Ireland national team, having a goalkeeper with 62 Premier League appearances, a club‑record penalty‑shootout streak, and experience at Liverpool and Brentford is a clear asset. The choice for manager Stephen Kenny (and his successor) is straightforward: build the defence around a goalkeeper who has proven he can deliver under pressure, or risk losing his best years to the bench. Given Kelleher’s trajectory, the smart move is to keep him in the starting XI for every competitive fixture.

For a deeper look into his journey from Liverpool to Brentford, see Caoimhin Kellehers full profile.

Frequently asked questions