Kerr Smith
Personal information
Full name Kerr David Smith[1]
Date of birth (2004-12-12) 12 December 2004 (age 19)
Place of birth Montrose, Scotland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 St Johnstone
(on loan from Aston Villa)
Number 35
Youth career
Brechin City
2011–2021 Dundee United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Dundee United 10 (0)
2022– Aston Villa 0 (0)
2024– → St Johnstone (loan) 3 (0)
International career‡
2021– Scotland U19 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:22, 5 February 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:52, 25 September 2022 (UTC)

Kerr David Smith (born 12 December 2004) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone, on loan from Premier League club Aston Villa.

He is a product of the Dundee United academy, and made his Scottish Premiership debut there in 2021 aged 16, before joining Aston Villa in January 2022.

Early life

Smith was born on 12 December 2004 in Montrose, Angus.[2] Smith attended Lochside Primary School in Montrose, Angus. Smith played for the Brechin City Boys Club as a child before starting an association with the Dundee United academy at seven years old.[3]

Club career

Dundee United

Smith was developed through Dundee United's academy. At the age of 15, he appeared for a youthful Dundee United team in a friendly match against Premier League club Sheffield United in August 2020, which was abandoned after 45 minutes.[4] In the next few weeks, he had trials with Premier League clubs Aston Villa and Manchester United.[5][6] Despite interest from those clubs and others in England, Smith decided to sign his first professional contract with Dundee United upon reaching his 16th birthday in December 2020, under contract until 2023.[7] He was immediately allocated a first team squad number of 43[8] and was an unused substitute in United's Scottish Premiership match against Rangers the following day.[9]

He made his competitive senior debut for Dundee United as a late substitute in their 4–1 Premiership defeat against Rangers at Ibrox Stadium on 21 February 2021.[10] He then made his first starting appearance in a 3–0 defeat against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on 21 April 2021.[11]

Aston Villa

On 14 January 2022, English Premier League club Aston Villa announced Smith as a new signing for their Academy.[12] The transfer fee was undisclosed, but was reported to be worth up to £2 million.[13]

St Johnstone loan

On 2 January 2024, Smith signed a professional contract with Aston Villa. The same day he joined Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone on loan until the end of the season.[14] Smith made his debut as a late substitute in a 1–0 victory over Ross County on 3 February.[15]

International career

Smith made his debut for the Scotland U19 team in a 3–0 victory over Gibraltar in a 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification match on 13 November 2021.[16]

Career statistics

As of 3 February 2024
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dundee United 2020–21[17] Scottish Premiership 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
2021–22[18] 5 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 7 0
Total 10 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 12 0
Aston Villa 2021–22[18] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022–23[19] 0 0 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 2 0
2023–24[20] 0 0 0 0 0 0 3[a] 0 3 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 5 0
St Johnstone (loan) 2023–24[20] Scottish Premiership 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Career total 11 0 0 0 2 0 5 0 18 0
  1. ^ a b Appearances for Aston Villa U21 in the EFL Trophy

References

  1. ^ "Updated squad lists for 2021/22 Premier League". Premier League. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Kerr Smith". Arab Archive. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  3. ^ "KERR SMITH MAKES PREMIER LEAGUE SWITCH". Dundee United Football Club. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  4. ^ Woodger, Calum (25 August 2020). "Dundee United A-A Sheffield United: Friendly called to a halt as Blades led through Sharp at sodden Tannadice". The Courier. Dundee. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  5. ^ Nicolson, Eric (30 September 2020). "EXCLUSIVE: Highly-rated young Dundee United defender Kerr Smith goes down south with Aston Villa". The Courier. Dundee. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  6. ^ Nicolson, Eric (27 October 2020). "EXCLUSIVE: Dundee United hot prospect Kerr Smith has spent a week training with Manchester United". The Courier. Dundee. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  7. ^ Banks, Ben (18 December 2020). "Kerr Smith signs first Dundee United deal amid Manchester United interest". Not The Old Firm. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Kerr Smith signs first professional contract at Tannadice". Dundee United F.C. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  9. ^ Pirie, Mark (13 December 2020). "Dundee United vs Rangers - Live updates". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  10. ^ Cairney, James (21 February 2021). "Rangers 4-1 Dundee United: How the visitors rated in Premiership loss". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Job not done after Killie win - Wright". BBC Sport. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Smith joins Villa Academy". Aston Villa Football Club. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  13. ^ Hamilton, Sean. "Kerr Smith seals move from Dundee United to Aston Villa". The Courier. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Kerr Smith pens pro deal and seals loan". Aston Villa Football Club. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  15. ^ "St Johnstone sink County in long-awaited away win". BBC Sport. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Four Rangers teens involved as Scotland under-19s win 3-0 in Croatia". Rangers News. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Games played by Kerr Smith in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Games played by Kerr Smith in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  19. ^ "Games played by Kerr Smith in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Games played by Kerr Smith in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

External links

St Johnstone F.C. – current squad
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