# Kieran Dowell
**Kieran O'Neill Dowell** (born 1997 in Ormskirk) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder, predominantly left-footed, and who has featured for nine clubs including Everton, Norwich City, Rangers, and Hull City.[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20160909064942/http:/www.evertonfc.com/players/k/kd/kieran-dowell) • [2](https://www.statscrew.com/worldfootball/stats/p-dowelkie001) • [3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cy8pgy10eyko) A product of Everton's academy, he built his reputation on loan at Nottingham Forest, won the Championship title with Norwich City and the League One title with Birmingham City, and was a member of England's 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup-winning squad.[3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cy8pgy10eyko) • [4](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1745520/everton-midfielder-dowell-makes-norwich-move) • [5](https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/rangers-sign-kieran-dowell-on-pre-contract/4AZ4dRHc2Lcnjg0y7ikDWR)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1997, Ormskirk; 1.83 m, left-footed attacking midfielder[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20160909064942/http:/www.evertonfc.com/players/k/kd/kieran-dowell) • [6](https://www.transfermarkt.com/kieran-dowell/profil/spieler/258916) |
| Career totals | 44 goals and 18 assists in 213 games across seven senior clubs (to 2023)[2](https://www.statscrew.com/worldfootball/stats/p-dowelkie001) |
| Everton | Joined the academy at seven; senior debut in the Europa League against FC Krasnodar, December 2014; five first-team appearances[4](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1745520/everton-midfielder-dowell-makes-norwich-move) |
| Norwich City | 75 appearances 2020-23[5](https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/rangers-sign-kieran-dowell-on-pre-contract/4AZ4dRHc2Lcnjg0y7ikDWR); Championship title 2020-21[7](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kieran-dowell-everton-transfer-20540283); first Premier League goal against Manchester United[8](https://bcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/dowells-journey-to-blues) |
| Rangers | Free transfer July 2023; 33 appearances and 3 goals by the club's own count[9](https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/kieran-dowell-joins-hull-city/6wdRuPecd2njYSiFGuQAsz) |
| England | U20 World Cup winner 2017, playing every game including the final; 16 U21 caps, 2 goals[10](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2019/07/introducing-kieran-dowell) • [6](https://www.transfermarkt.com/kieran-dowell/profil/spieler/258916) |
| Honours | Premier League 2 (2016-17), Championship (2020-21), League One (2024-25, Birmingham loan)[4](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1745520/everton-midfielder-dowell-makes-norwich-move) • [7](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kieran-dowell-everton-transfer-20540283) • [11](https://insideibrox.com/kieran-dowell-leaves-rangers-hull-city) |
## Early life and youth career
Dowell was born in Ormskirk, Lancashire, and grew up in the nearby village of Aughton. He joined Everton's Academy at seven years old and signed a scholarship with the club in June 2014.[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20160909064942/http:/www.evertonfc.com/players/k/kd/kieran-dowell) • [10](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2019/07/introducing-kieran-dowell) In the 2015/16 season he scored 11 goals for Everton's Under-21s under David Unsworth, including a 40-yard chip against [Southampton](https://www.edgepedia.org/southampton).[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20160909064942/http:/www.evertonfc.com/players/k/kd/kieran-dowell) After breaking into the first team he signed a new three-year contract in June 2016.[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20160909064942/http:/www.evertonfc.com/players/k/kd/kieran-dowell)
## Everton first team
Dowell's senior debut came in December 2014 in the Europa League against [FC Krasnodar](https://www.edgepedia.org/fc-krasnodar), where he came on six minutes in to replace the injured [Christian Atsu](https://www.edgepedia.org/christian-atsu) and played the remainder of the match.[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20160909064942/http:/www.evertonfc.com/players/k/kd/kieran-dowell) He made his Premier League debut at 18 in 2016 against [AFC Bournemouth](https://www.edgepedia.org/afc-bournemouth), a 2-1 win, and started two weeks later in a 3-0 win over Norwich City on the final day of the 2015-16 season, his full debut.[12](https://www.bcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/blues-loan-kieran-dowell) • [13](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-teenager-kieran-dowell-aiming-11337218) First-team opportunities stayed limited: he made five Everton appearances in total, and in 2018-19 managed only two EFL Cup appearances before a January loan.[4](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1745520/everton-midfielder-dowell-makes-norwich-move) • [10](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2019/07/introducing-kieran-dowell) His major Everton honor came at youth level, as a key member of the Under-23s' Premier League 2 title-winning squad in 2016-17.[4](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1745520/everton-midfielder-dowell-makes-norwich-move)
## Loan spells: Forest, Sheffield United, Derby and Wigan
**Nottingham Forest, 2017-18.** In July 2017, aged 19, Dowell joined Forest on a season-long loan.[14](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40801597) He scored 10 goals in all competitions, including his first career hat-trick against Hull City in October 2017, and fired in double digits to become Forest's top scorer for the season.[10](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2019/07/introducing-kieran-dowell) • [8](https://bcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/dowells-journey-to-blues) In the Championship he made 38 appearances (31 starts) with 9 goals and 4 assists in 2,692 minutes.[2](https://www.statscrew.com/worldfootball/stats/p-dowelkie001) The move started impressively but the second half of the campaign saw him fall out of favor after [Aitor Karanka](https://www.edgepedia.org/aitor-karanka) replaced [Mark Warburton](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-warburton) as manager.[15](https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/huddersfield-town-target-kieran-dowell-16547482) • [16](https://www.toffeeweb.com/players/profiles/Dowell.php)
**Sheffield United, January 2019.** Dowell made 16 league appearances and eight starts under [Chris Wilder](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-wilder), some of them at left wing-back, scoring two goals and making another, including the decisive goal in a 1-0 away win at West Brom; both United and Norwich were promoted that season.[17](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1977026/2020/08/13/kieran-dowell-norwich-everton-derby/) • [10](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2019/07/introducing-kieran-dowell) Sheffield United News counts 17 appearances in total. Dowell later explained the mismatch: Wilder's game-plan was to overload in wide areas, which did not suit a No 10.[18](https://www.sheffieldunited.news/news/former-loanee-kieran-dowell-explains-why-it-didnt-work-out-at-sheffield-united/)
**Derby and Wigan, 2019-20.** He struggled at Derby County in the first half of the campaign, and his loan there was cut short due to lack of game time after eight starts.[18](https://www.sheffieldunited.news/news/former-loanee-kieran-dowell-explains-why-it-didnt-work-out-at-sheffield-united/) • [16](https://www.toffeeweb.com/players/profiles/Dowell.php) A switch to Wigan Athletic revived his season: he scored five goals in 12 appearances for the Latics in the second half of 2019/20, including a hat-trick in an 8-0 win over Hull City.[4](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1745520/everton-midfielder-dowell-makes-norwich-move) • [16](https://www.toffeeweb.com/players/profiles/Dowell.php)
## Norwich City
Dowell transferred from Everton to Norwich City for an undisclosed fee in summer 2020, aged 22.[4](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1745520/everton-midfielder-dowell-makes-norwich-move) An ankle injury in his second Wigan game, which required surgery, had looked like ruling him out and delayed his Norwich impact; all five of his 2020/21 Championship goals came after March as Norwich won the title in his first season.[7](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kieran-dowell-everton-transfer-20540283) In 2020-21 he made 24 appearances (12 starts) with 5 goals and 1 assist in 932 minutes.[2](https://www.statscrew.com/worldfootball/stats/p-dowelkie001)
In the 2021-22 Premier League season he turned out 19 times and scored his first top-tier goal against Manchester United, recording 1 goal and 1 assist in 912 minutes.[8](https://bcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/dowells-journey-to-blues) • [2](https://www.statscrew.com/worldfootball/stats/p-dowelkie001) He started just one of [Dean Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/dean-smith)'s opening 19 league games the following season, but under David Wagner in 2022-23 his numbers rose sharply: his proportion of successful actions went from 50.7 percent in 2021-22 to 69.5 percent, and his per-90 involvement average from 61.22 to 69.93, with more passes attempted (43.28 versus 28 per 90) and more shots (1.25 versus 0.85).[19](https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/23025131.analyst-increased-involvement-trick-dowell/) That season he made 23 appearances (14 starts) with 5 goals and 3 assists in 1,115 minutes, and across all competitions scored 5 goals from 2.94 expected goals, 2.06 above expectation.[2](https://www.statscrew.com/worldfootball/stats/p-dowelkie001) • [20](https://www.tifolab.com/players/19100?season=2022%2F23) In total he made 75 Norwich appearances between 2020 and 2023.[5](https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/rangers-sign-kieran-dowell-on-pre-contract/4AZ4dRHc2Lcnjg0y7ikDWR)
## Rangers
Rangers announced a pre-contract signing of Dowell from Norwich on a three-year deal effective 1 July 2023, a free transfer, and he made a [UEFA Champions League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-champions-league) debut after arriving.[5](https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/rangers-sign-kieran-dowell-on-pre-contract/4AZ4dRHc2Lcnjg0y7ikDWR) • [8](https://bcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/dowells-journey-to-blues) Signed by then-manager Michael Beale, he cited the intensity of Scottish football as the big reason for the move, saying it was one he had not seen in the Championship.[11](https://insideibrox.com/kieran-dowell-leaves-rangers-hull-city) • [21](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cnk1k0kx53ko) He scored early in a win over Livingston, but injuries and inconsistent form limited his starts, and in 2023-24 he made 10 [Scottish Premiership](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottish-premiership) appearances (5 starts) with 2 goals in 453 minutes.[11](https://insideibrox.com/kieran-dowell-leaves-rangers-hull-city) • [2](https://www.statscrew.com/worldfootball/stats/p-dowelkie001)
Under [Philippe Clement](https://www.edgepedia.org/philippe-clement) he was loaned to Birmingham City in January 2025, having made just two Scottish Premiership starts that season; the summer 2024 arrival of Nedim Bajrami had pushed him further down the pecking order.[11](https://insideibrox.com/kieran-dowell-leaves-rangers-hull-city) • [22](https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/football/news/rangers-former-everton-star-janaury-loan/64b536ca09b9230512813e06) At Birmingham he performed well, with 5 goals and 4 assists in 17 League One appearances, and won the [EFL League One](https://www.edgepedia.org/efl-league-one) title.[23](https://www.transfermarkt.com/kieran-dowell/leistungsdaten/spieler/258916) • [11](https://insideibrox.com/kieran-dowell-leaves-rangers-hull-city) Back at Rangers for 2025-26 under Russell Martin, he featured in Champions League qualifiers against Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzeň before injury sidelined him ahead of the Club Brugge tie; his final Rangers contribution was a headed goal in a 5-0 [Scottish Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottish-cup) win over Annan Athletic, his first in over two years.[11](https://insideibrox.com/kieran-dowell-leaves-rangers-hull-city) Rangers' official count gives him 33 appearances and 3 goals at Ibrox, while BBC Sport reports 39 appearances across all competitions; Inside Ibrox reports 39 Rangers appearances, plus one Rangers B Challenge Cup appearance.[9](https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/kieran-dowell-joins-hull-city/6wdRuPecd2njYSiFGuQAsz) • [3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cy8pgy10eyko) • [11](https://insideibrox.com/kieran-dowell-leaves-rangers-hull-city)
## Hull City
In January 2026 Hull City signed Dowell from Rangers on an 18-month contract for an undisclosed fee; Transfermarkt records the permanent move on 23 January 2026 with a contract to 30 June 2027. Hull was the ninth club of his career.[3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cy8pgy10eyko) • [11](https://insideibrox.com/kieran-dowell-leaves-rangers-hull-city) • [6](https://www.transfermarkt.com/kieran-dowell/profil/spieler/258916)
## International career
Dowell was an England youth international at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 level. At the 2017 [FIFA U-20 World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-u-20-world-cup), managed by Paul Simpson, he played in every game, scored against South Korea to secure England's place in the knockout phase, and featured in the 1-0 final win against Venezuela, England's first triumph in a global tournament since the 1966 World Cup.[10](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2019/07/introducing-kieran-dowell) • [8](https://bcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/dowells-journey-to-blues) He was one of five Everton players in that squad, alongside academy peers [Jonjoe Kenny](https://www.edgepedia.org/jonjoe-kenny) and Callum Connolly, and was a regular in midfield alongside Josh Onomah and Lewis Cook.[24](https://worldfootballindex.com/2017/06/everton-transfer-policy-home-grown/) Many of that cohort, including Dowell, stepped up to the England Under-21 side, where he earned 16 caps and scored 2 goals; some of those appearances came as a No 6, and he has generally impressed most in a more attacking role.[25](https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-man-kieran-dowell-416136) • [6](https://www.transfermarkt.com/kieran-dowell/profil/spieler/258916) • [17](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1977026/2020/08/13/kieran-dowell-norwich-everton-derby/)
## Playing style
Dowell is a predominantly left-footed attacking midfielder suited to the No 10 role, noted for long-range goals, dead-ball kicking, crossing, and finishing.[16](https://www.toffeeweb.com/players/profiles/Dowell.php) Coaches regard his key attribute as the ability to change a game from any final-third position, delivering passes, crosses and shots, though his best position has been a recurring debate; analysts have identified physicality as an area for improvement for Premier League rigours.[17](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1977026/2020/08/13/kieran-dowell-norwich-everton-derby/) • [15](https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/huddersfield-town-target-kieran-dowell-16547482) He has described his own versatility as playing "as an eight, as a 10, deeper, or wide right", and in 2024/25 he was used as a right winger (9 appearances), right midfielder (8), attacking midfielder (3), central midfielder (3) and defensive midfielder (1).[21](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cnk1k0kx53ko) • [23](https://www.transfermarkt.com/kieran-dowell/leistungsdaten/spieler/258916) His own account contrasts the systems that fit him: Norwich's plan of overloading the middle of the pitch with Todd Cantwell and Emi Buendia suited him as a No 10, while Sheffield United's wide-area overload did not.[7](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kieran-dowell-everton-transfer-20540283) FotMob percentile data ranks him at 85 percent for touches, 77 percent for chances created and 77 percent for defensive contributions among attacking midfielders and wingers.[26](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/605262/kieran-dowell)
## By the numbers
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps (starts) | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | Nottingham Forest (loan) | Championship | 38 (31) | 9 | 4 | 2,692[2](https://www.statscrew.com/worldfootball/stats/p-dowelkie001) |
| 2019-20 | Wigan Athletic (loan) | Championship | 12 | 5 | – | –[4](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1745520/everton-midfielder-dowell-makes-norwich-move) |
| 2020-21 | Norwich City | Championship | 24 (12) | 5 | 1 | 932[2](https://www.statscrew.com/worldfootball/stats/p-dowelkie001) |
| 2021-22 | Norwich City | Premier League | 19 (11) | 1 | 1 | 912[2](https://www.statscrew.com/worldfootball/stats/p-dowelkie001) |
| 2022-23 | Norwich City | Championship | 23 (14) | 5 | 3 | 1,115[2](https://www.statscrew.com/worldfootball/stats/p-dowelkie001) |
| 2023-24 | Rangers | Scottish Premiership | 10 (5) | 2 | – | 453[2](https://www.statscrew.com/worldfootball/stats/p-dowelkie001) |
| 2024-25 | Rangers and Birmingham (loan) | All competitions | 37 | 5 | 5 | 2,094[23](https://www.transfermarkt.com/kieran-dowell/leistungsdaten/spieler/258916) |
In the 2022-23 Championship he ranked 89th for goals per 90 (0.40) and 82nd for assists per 90 (0.24), and his per-90 ball progression into the final third (7.21) was nearly double Todd Cantwell's (3.52) and above Marcelino Nunez's (6.71).[20](https://www.tifolab.com/players/19100?season=2022%2F23) • [19](https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/23025131.analyst-increased-involvement-trick-dowell/) Tifolab records 1,863 minutes across five competitions in 2024-25, with 0.24 goals and 0.19 assists per 90.[20](https://www.tifolab.com/players/19100?season=2022%2F23)
## Honours
- FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2017 (England)[8](https://bcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/dowells-journey-to-blues)
- Premier League 2: 2016-17 (Everton Under-23s)[4](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1745520/everton-midfielder-dowell-makes-norwich-move)
- EFL Championship: 2020-21 (Norwich City); promotion as runners-up with Sheffield United, 2018-19[7](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kieran-dowell-everton-transfer-20540283) • [16](https://www.toffeeweb.com/players/profiles/Dowell.php)
- EFL League One: 2024-25 (Birmingham City, on loan)[11](https://insideibrox.com/kieran-dowell-leaves-rangers-hull-city)
## References
1. [Rangers Sign Kieran Dowell on Pre-Contract, Rangers FC](https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/rangers-sign-kieran-dowell-on-pre-contract/4AZ4dRHc2Lcnjg0y7ikDWR)
2. [Everton Midfielder Dowell Makes Norwich Move, Everton FC](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1745520/everton-midfielder-dowell-makes-norwich-move)
3. [Kieran Dowell: Hull City sign midfielder from Rangers on 18-month deal, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cy8pgy10eyko)
4. [Kieran Dowell Joins Hull City, Rangers FC](https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/kieran-dowell-joins-hull-city/6wdRuPecd2njYSiFGuQAsz)
5. [Blues loan Kieran Dowell, Birmingham City FC](https://www.bcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/blues-loan-kieran-dowell)
6. [Dowell's Journey to Blues, Birmingham City FC](https://bcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/dowells-journey-to-blues)
7. [Kieran Dowell, Everton FC profile (archived)](https://web.archive.org/web/20160909064942/http:/www.evertonfc.com/players/k/kd/kieran-dowell)
8. [Dowell 'was straight on phone' to Cantwell after Rangers approach, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cnk1k0kx53ko)
9. [Norwich tracked Dowell since 2017 and flamboyant No 10 can flourish for Farke, The Athletic](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1977026/2020/08/13/kieran-dowell-norwich-everton-derby/)
10. [The Analyst: Increased involvement does the trick for Dowell, EDP24](https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/23025131.analyst-increased-involvement-trick-dowell/)
11. [Huddersfield Town target Kieran Dowell at Everton, Yorkshire Live](https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/huddersfield-town-target-kieran-dowell-16547482)
12. [Former loanee Kieran Dowell explains why it didn't work out at Sheffield United, Sheffield United News](https://www.sheffieldunited.news/news/former-loanee-kieran-dowell-explains-why-it-didnt-work-out-at-sheffield-united/)
13. [Introducing: Kieran Dowell, Derby County FC](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2019/07/introducing-kieran-dowell)
14. [Kieran Dowell: Everton midfielder joins Nottingham Forest on loan, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40801597)
15. [Kieran Dowell world football statistics, StatsCrew](https://www.statscrew.com/worldfootball/stats/p-dowelkie001)
16. [Kieran Dowell player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.com/kieran-dowell/profil/spieler/258916)
17. [Kieran Dowell performance data, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.com/kieran-dowell/leistungsdaten/spieler/258916)
18. [Kieran Dowell, Tifolab](https://www.tifolab.com/players/19100?season=2022%2F23)
19. [Kieran Dowell, FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/605262/kieran-dowell)
20. [Former Rangers midfield duo reunite as Kieran Dowell joins Hull City, Inside Ibrox](https://insideibrox.com/kieran-dowell-leaves-rangers-hull-city)
21. [Rangers offload former Everton star in January loan exit, Sporting News](https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/football/news/rangers-former-everton-star-janaury-loan/64b536ca09b9230512813e06)
22. [Kieran Dowell explains 'perfect' Everton transfer decision, Liverpool Echo](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kieran-dowell-everton-transfer-20540283)
23. [Everton's Youth & Transfer Policies Begin to Bear Fruit, World Football Index](https://worldfootballindex.com/2017/06/everton-transfer-policy-home-grown/)
24. [Nottingham Forest man Kieran Dowell says improving England have lessons to learn, Nottingham Post](https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-man-kieran-dowell-416136)
25. [Everton teenager Kieran Dowell aiming to impress new boss in pre-season, Liverpool Echo](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-teenager-kieran-dowell-aiming-11337218)
26. [Kieran Dowell, Everton past Player Profile, Toffeeweb](https://www.toffeeweb.com/players/profiles/Dowell.php)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of the British Isles (modern era) › English footballers 2015–present › Wingers and attacking midfielders › English attacking midfielders*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license