Kai Payne

Kai Payne
Personal information
Full name Kai Anthony Payne[1]
Date of birth (2004-11-26) 26 November 2004[2]
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Oldham Athletic
(on loan from Wigan Athletic)
Youth career
2013–2017 Liverpool
2018–2023 Wigan Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Wigan Athletic 1 (0)
2023 → Mossley (loan) 9 (2)
2024 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 4 (0)
2025– → Oldham Athletic (loan) 32 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11:32, 8 July 2025 (UTC)

Kai Payne (born 26 November 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for EFL League Two club Oldham Athletic, on loan from EFL League One club Wigan Athletic.

Career

Payne was a highly sought-after player at under-9 level and was in the Academy at Liverpool until the age of 13.[3] He joined the academy at Wigan Athletic following a trial game in November 2018.[3] He turned professional at Wigan in November 2022 early into the second year of his scholarship.[4] On 2 March 2023, he joined Northern Premier League Division One West club Mossley on loan.[5][6]

He made his debut for Wigan in November 2023 in an EFL Trophy game against Tranmere Rovers.[7] He made his first league appearance in August 2024 against Crawley Town, and signed a new three-year contract with the club a few days later.[8]

On 14 October 2024, Payne joined National League club Oldham Athletic on loan until 11 November.[9]

On 8 July 2025, Payne returned to Oldham Athletic on a season-long loan following their promotion to League Two.[10] On 4 August 2026, he returned to the club for another season-long loan deal.[11]

Style of play

Payne is a combative midfielder with excellent technique.[3]

Career statistics

As of match played 8 October 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wigan Athletic 2022–23[12]EFL Championship0000000000
2023–24[13]EFL League One0000001[a]010
2024–25[14] League One 1000002[a]030
Total 1000003040
Mossley (loan) 2023–24[13] Northern Premier League
Division One West		 92———92
Career total 102000030132
  1. 1 2 Appearances in the EFL Trophy

References

  1. ↑ "EFL Squad List: Season 2024/25" (PDF). The English Football League. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  2. ↑ Kai Payne at Soccerway
  3. 1 2 3 "Kai Payne". Wigan Athletic FC. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  4. ↑ "Kai Payne signs professional contract at Wigan Athletic". Wigan Athletic FC. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "Kai Payne joins Lilywhites on loan!". Mossley AFC. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  6. ↑ Gordon, James (2 March 2023). "New loan addition for Mossley - The Pitching In Northern Premier League". www.thenpl.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  7. ↑ Kendrick, Paul (14 November 2023). "Report: Tranmere Rovers 0 Wigan Athletic 0 (Latics win 6-5 on penalties)". Wigan Today. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  8. ↑ "Kai Payne signs a new three-year contract at Wigan Athletic". Wigan Athletic. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  9. ↑ "Payne Checks In on Loan". www.oldhamathletic.co.uk. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  10. ↑ "Payne Re-Joins On Loan". www.oldhamathletic.co.uk. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  11. ↑ "Payne Returns On Loan". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 4 August 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Games played by Kai Payne in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Games played by Kai Payne in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  14. ↑ "Games played by Kai Payne in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
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