Who are Killian Phillips and Kaden Rodney? Meet new Academy debutants

First-team

23 Aug 2022

Academy players Killian Phillips and Kaden Rodney started for Crystal Palace against Oxford United in the League Cup on Tuesday night. Neither had played competitively for Palace before and they weren't the only new faces, so get to know the debutant Academy lads below!

Starting

55. Killian Phillips

Palace signed Phillips from Drogheda United in January 2022 and he went on to make 10 appearances for the Under-23s in the second half of their 2021/22 campaign. Before joining Palace, he made his professional debut aged 19 for Drogheda in April 2021 and registered 30 appearances for the Irish Premier Division side.

He is predominantly a central-midfielder, though he can fill in at centre-back if needed. He played in a centre-back role against Manchester United and Liverpool in this summer’s pre-season tour of Australia and Singapore, impressing with his physicality and confidence.

The Irishman has featured in his preferred midfield role for Paddy McCarthy’s Under-21s side this season, and managed to notch a brace in the 1-5 triumph over Manchester United U21s.

Killian Phillips speaks after signing from Drogheda United

78. Kaden Rodney

Rodney is a product of the Palace Academy. Having been at the club since the age of eight, the midfielder has consistently played above his age group. The 17-year-old featured heavily for the Under-18s initially last season, before progressing further up the ranks to compete with Paddy McCarthy’s U23s as the season went on.

He signed a professional contract in October 2021 and made an appearance on this season’s tour of Australia and Singapore against Liverpool. He is capable of playing across the back four, as well as in defensive midfield.

Kaden Rodney signs his professional contract

On the bench

45. Jack Wells-Morrison

Eighteen-year-old Wells-Morrison is another product of the Academy. He is Palace through and through, attending with his family, and has progressed through the ranks since the age of six.

Wells-Morrison scored in the 3-2 victory over Wigan in the Under-15 Floodlit Cup final and has been on an upward trajectory since. He featured prominently for the U18s in 2020/21 at 16-years-old and the following season was a mainstay in the U23s.

47. David Boateng

David Boateng has been a part of the Academy for several years, featuring prominently in the U18s side which finished runners-up in the 2017/18 Professional Development League.

He has since gone on to help the U23s win promotion to the Premier League 2 Division 1 in 2020/21, which earned him a professional contract in August 2021.

Academy
First-team
Under-18s
Under-23s
Killian Phillips
Kaden Rodney
Jack Wells-Morrison

Related News

More News