{{Short description|Welsh footballer (born 1988)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Kayleigh Barton | image = Kayleigh Green (46934063632) (cropped).jpg | caption = Kayleigh Green in February 2019 | fullname = Kayleigh Anne Marie Barton<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2018 and 31/07/2018 |url=https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/july-2018.ashx |publisher=The FA |accessdate=3 December 2018 |format=PDF}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|3|22|df=y}} | birth_place = Cardiff, Wales | height = 1.75 m | position = Forward | currentclub = | clubnumber = 15 | years1 = 2012–2016 | clubs1 = Cardiff City | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 2016–2018 | clubs2 = Yeovil Town | caps2 = 29 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2017 | clubs3 = → Chieti Calcio Femminile (loan) | caps3 = 5 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2018–2023 | clubs4 = Brighton & Hove Albion | caps4 = 62 | goals4 = 7 | years5 = 2023–2025 | clubs5 = Charlton Athletic | caps5 = 38 | goals5 = 11 | nationalyears1 = 2012–2025 | nationalteam1 = Wales | nationalcaps1 = 89 | nationalgoals1 = 22 | manageryears1 = 2025– | managerclubs1 = Saltdean United }}
'''Kayleigh Anne Marie Barton''' ({{née}} '''Green'''; born 22 March 1988) is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a forward, making 89 appearances for the Wales national team. She is now a coach with the Welsh national team.
Barton began her career with Cardiff City, before joining Yeovil Town in 2016. She spent time on loan with Italian side Chieti Calcio Femminile in 2017.
==Early life== Barton was born in Cardiff, growing up in the Llanedeyrn area of the city. She is one of four children born to her parents, Dave and Cathy Sellwood. She has three brothers.<ref name="wo">{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kayleigh-green-wales-women-football-17218860 |title=From Tesco to the top flight: How Kayleigh Green seized her second chance at stardom |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Sands |first=Katie |date=10 November 2019 |accessdate=25 March 2020}}</ref> She played football as a teenager but gave up playing on a regular basis at the age of 16, working several different jobs. Barton worked at branches of Tesco and Morrisons, in a call centre and studied plumbing in college.<ref name="wo"/><ref name="goal">{{cite news |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/from-quitting-football-in-her-20s-to-a-first-pro-contract-at/1i1by4mmd3o8u1nn5zoepwc80v |title=From quitting football in her 20s, to a first pro contract at 30: Green relishing Arsenal & Man Utd clashes |website=goal.com |last=Ruszkai |first=Amee |date=11 January 2020 |accessdate=25 March 2020}}</ref>
==Club career== Barton decided to return to playing senior football in 2012, joining Cardiff City. She joined Yeovil Town in 2016 and spent time on loan with Italian team Chieti Calcio Femminile during her time there, making five appearances for the Serie B side.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/2018/06/16/wales-top-scorer-green-brighton/ |title=Wales top scorer Kayleigh Green joins Brighton & Hove Albion |publisher=Y Clwb Pel-droed |last=Jones |first=Jordan |date=16 June 2018 |accessdate=25 March 2020}}</ref> In 2018, Barton joined FA WSL 1 club Brighton & Hove Albion upon the expiration of her contract with Yeovil.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.exposport.co.uk/2018/06/16/versatile-welsh-international-kayleigh-green-signs-for-brighton-and-hove-albion/ |title=Versatile Welsh international Kayleigh Green signs for Brighton and Hove Albion |publisher=Exposport |last=Ellis |first=Callum |date=16 June 2018 |accessdate=25 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/sport/football/albion-manager-powell-delighted-sign-versatile-green-yeovil-831796 |title=Albion manager Powell delighted to sign versatile Green from Yeovil |newspaper=Eastbourne Herald |date=16 June 2018 |accessdate=25 March 2020}}</ref> Barton had previously continued working full-time alongside her playing career prior to joining Brighton.<ref name="goal"/>
=== 2020–21 season ===
On 18 October 2020, Barton was seen to be awarded 2 yellow cards in a 2–2 away draw at Everton by referee Lucy Oliver but was not sent off. ''Toffees'' boss Willie Kirk told BBC Sport, "It's frustrating the referee made that mistake."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54496419|title=Women's Super League: Everton 2–2 Brighton & Hove Albion – Willie Kirk baffled by card 'mix–up' – BBC Sport|publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 October 2020|accessdate=19 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/54594122|title=WSL Trending: Two yellow cards = no red? Watch bizarre card mix–up in WSL – BBC Sport|publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 October 2020|accessdate=19 October 2020}}</ref>
===Charlton Athletic=== On 19 July 2023, Barton was announced at Charlton on a one year contract<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charltonafc.com/news/done-deal-kayleigh-green-signs-charlton|title=DONE DEAL Kayleigh Green signs for Charlton|website=www.charltonafc.com}}</ref> where she remained until 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fawslfulltime.co.uk/2025/07/02/charlton-athletic-reveal-further-departures/|title=Charlton Athletic reveal further departures|publisher=WSL Full-time|accessdate=12 August 2025}}</ref>
==International career== Barton made her debut for the Wales women's national football team in 2012 against Portugal.
Barton was named in the Wales squad for the 2016 Cyprus Women's Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.womenssoccerunited.com/wales-names-squad-for-cyprus-womens-cup-2016|title=Wales Names Squad for Cyprus Women's Cup 2016|publisher=Women's Soccer United|date=18 February 2016|access-date=27 October 2024|archive-date=7 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207234030/https://www.womenssoccerunited.com/wales-names-squad-for-cyprus-womens-cup-2016/|url-status=dead}}</ref> She scored against Finland in the 2016 Cyprus Women's Cup on 2 March 2016, scoring in the 34th minute.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/03/02/world/cyprus-cup/wales/finland/2191897/|title=Wales vs Finland - 2 March 2016|website=int.soccerway.com}}</ref>
Barton was named in the Wales squad for the 2018 Cyprus Women's Cup as a centre-forward.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.faw.cymru/en/news/wales-squad-announced-cyprus-cup/|title=Wales squad announced for Cyprus Cup|publisher=Football Association of Wales|date=13 February 2018}}</ref> Wales manager Jayne Ludlow moved Barton from her usual position as a defender to play as a centre-forward for a match against Finland, in which she scored.<ref name="wo"/>
Barton was part of the Wales squad that were runners-up in the 2023 Pinatar Cup.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cymru Squad Announced For 2023 Pinatar Cup |url=https://www.faw.cymru/en/news/cymru-squad-announced-2023-pinatar-cup/ |publisher=Football Association of Wales |date=8 February 2023}}</ref>
On 19 October 2024, Barton was called up to the Wales side for European qualifying play offs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charltonafc.com/news/international-call-ups-charlton-women|title=International call ups for Charlton Women|website=www.charltonafc.com}}</ref>
Kayleigh currently has 86 caps,<ref>{{cite web |title=Wales Euro 2025 Squad |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/extra/wmx964ead5/cymru |website=BBC |access-date=29 June 2025}}</ref> scoring 22 goals in her career.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wales Euro 2025 Squad |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/extra/wmx964ead5/cymru |website=BBC |access-date=29 June 2025}}</ref>
In June 2025, Barton was named in Wales' squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cymru squad announced for UEFA Women's EURO 2025 finals |url=https://faw.cymru/news/cymru-squad-announced-for-uefa-womens-euro-2025-finals/ |publisher=Football Association of Wales |access-date=19 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619092736/https://faw.cymru/news/cymru-squad-announced-for-uefa-womens-euro-2025-finals/ |archive-date=19 June 2025 |date=19 June 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following the euros, Barton retired from both club and international football with 89 appearances and 22 goals.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kayleigh Barton and a fitting Cymru farewell|url=https://faw.cymru/news/kayleigh-barton-and-a-fitting-cymru-farewell/|website=FAW|date=2025-08-12|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en-US|first=|last=}}</ref>
==Coaching career== ===Saltdean United=== On 9 June 2025, Barton was named head coach of fifth tier London and South East Women's Regional Football League club Saltdean United, to work alongside Katie McIntyre and Amy Green.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c0r1e8x2807o|title=Wales' Barton takes on Saltdean head coach role|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=12 August 2025}}</ref> Barton later took on a role as Head of Girls’ Football for AF Global in London, leading girls’ development programmes within the organisation’s academy structure.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Team {{!}} UEFA Licensed Coaches & Football Experts UK |url=https://www.afglobal.football/our-team |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=AF Global Football Academy {{!}} Elite Training in UK & Spain |language=en-GB}}</ref> She officially announced her retirement as a player in August 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5y3vgnyq79o|title=Wales striker Barton ends playing career|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=12 August 2025}}</ref>
=== Wales === Following her retirement from international play, Barton took up a position coaching with the Wales' under-17s squad before joining the coaching staff of the senior national team ahead of the 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign in March 2026.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vincent |first=Gareth |date=18 February 2026 |title=Fishlock to join Wales staff for opening qualifier |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cm2rje9mq23o |access-date=18 February 2026 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>
==Personal life== Green said in a 2022 interview that she will marry her former Brighton teammate Kirsty Barton; they had their wedding the next year.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Selby |first1=Erik |title=Brighton & Hove Albion Women's Football Club |url=https://www.bn1magazine.co.uk/brighton-hove-albion-womens-football-club-2/ |website=BN1 Magazine |date=20 September 2021 |access-date=12 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Kayleigh |title=On behalf of Mrs & Mrs Barton we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who shared our special day with us 👰🏼 👰🏻♀️ We had an incredible day and one we will cherish for the rest of our life 💕 #Mrs&MrsBarton #wife |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CxQ12T_osPb/ |website=Instagram |access-date=12 June 2024}}</ref> On 10 February 2024, it was announced that Green would go by Kayleigh Barton going forwards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charltonafc.com/news/kayleigh-green-go-married-name-kayleigh-barton|title=Kayleigh Green to go by married name Kayleigh Barton|website=www.charltonafc.com}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== ''Some entries are missing or incomplete due to lack of historical statistics.''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- ! rowspan="2" |Club ! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |National Cup ! colspan="2" |Other ! colspan="2" |Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Cardiff City Ladies |2015-16 |FA Women's Premier League | |||||||||||| | |- |rowspan="3"|Yeovil Town |2016–17 | ||||||||||||||| |- |2017–18 |WSL ||||||||||||||| |- ! colspan="2" |Total !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |- |Chieti Calcio Femminile (Loan) |2017 |Serie B | ||||||||||||| |- |rowspan="6"|Brighton & Hove Albion |2018–19 |rowspan="5"|WSL |18||2||1||0||3||1||22||3 |- |2019–20 |16||2||3||0||4||4||23||6 |- |2020-21 |16||0||3||0||2||0||21||0 |- |2021–22 |18||3||1||1||1||0||20||4 |- |2022–23 |19||1||3||0||3||0||25||1 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !87!!8!!11!!1!!13!!5!!111!!14 |- |rowspan="3"|Charlton Athletic |2023–24 |rowspan="2"|Women's Championship ||21||7||1||0||2||0||24||0 |- |2024–25 ||17||0||2||1||2||0||21||1 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !38!!7!!3!!1!!4!!0!!45!!1 |- ! colspan="3"|Career total !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |}
==Managerial statistics== {{updated|match played 3 May 2026}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Managerial record by team and tenure |- !rowspan="2"|Team !rowspan="2"|From !rowspan="2"|To !colspan="8"|Record |- !{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip|W|Games won}} !{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}} !{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}} !{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}} !{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}} |- |align=left|Saltdean United |align=left|9 June 2025 |align=left|''Present'' {{WDL|29|24|2|3|for=111|against=15|diff=yes}} |- ! colspan="3" |'''Career total''' {{WDLtot|29|24|2|3|for=111|against=15|diff=yes}} |}
== International appearances ==
{| class="wikitable" |+Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team !Year !Apps !Goals |- | rowspan="12" |Wales |Prior to 2012 |2 |0 |- |2015 |3 |0 |- |2016 |8 |3 |- |2017 |12 |1 |- |2018 |10 |5 |- |2019 |8 |2 |- |2020 |5 |0 |- |2021 |8 |4 |- |2022 |13 |2 |- |2023 |7 |0 |- |2024 |9 |4 |- |2025 |4 |1 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !89 !22 |}
==International goals== {| class="wikitable" |- ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | 1. || 2 March 2016 || GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus || {{fbw|FIN}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || align=center| 2–2 || 2016 Cyprus Women's Cup |- | 2. || rowspan=2| 12 April 2016 || rowspan=2| BIIK Stadium, Shymkent, Kazakhstan || rowspan=2| {{fbw|KAZ}} || align=center|0–'''1'''|| rowspan=2 align=center| 0–4 || rowspan=2| UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying |- | 3. || align=center|0–'''2''' |- | 4. || 28 November 2017 || Bosnia and Herzegovina FA Training Centre, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina || {{fbw|BIH}} || align=center|0–'''1''' || align=center| 0–1 || 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |- | 5. || 28 February 2018 || Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus || {{fbw|FIN}} || align=center| 0–'''1''' || align=center| 0–1 || rowspan=2| 2018 Cyprus Women's Cup |- | 6. || 7 March 2018 || AEK Arena, Larnaca, Cyprus || {{fbw|AUT}} || align=center| 1–'''1''' || align=center| 1–1 {{pso|2–3}} |- | 7. || 7 June 2018 || Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales || {{fbw|BIH}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–0 || rowspan=3| 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |- | 8. || rowspan=2| 12 June 2018 || rowspan=2| Newport Stadium, Newport, Wales || rowspan=2| {{fbw|RUS}} || align=center|'''1'''–0|| rowspan=2 align=center| 3–0 |- | 9. || align=center|'''2'''–0 |- | 10. || 4 June 2019 || Cardiff International Sports Campus, Cardiff, Wales || {{fbw|NZL}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–0 || Friendly |- | 11. || 3 September 2019 || Rodney Parade, Newport, Wales || {{fbw|NIR}} || align=center|'''2'''–1 || align=center| 2–2 || UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifying |- | 12. || rowspan=2| 17 September 2021 || rowspan=2| Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales || rowspan=2| {{fbw|KAZ}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 6–0 || rowspan=5| 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |- | 13. || align=center|'''4'''–0 |- | 14. || 22 October 2021 || Lendava Sports Park, Lendava, Slovenia || {{fbw|SLO}} || align=center|1–'''1''' || align=center| 1–1 |- | 15. || 26 November 2021 || Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales || {{fbw|GRE}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 5–0 |- | 16. || 12 April 2022 || Astana Arena, Astana, Kazakhstan || {{fbw|KAZ}} || align=center|0–'''1''' || align=center| 0–3 |- | 17. || 15 February 2023 || Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain || {{fbw|PHI}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–0 || 2023 Pinatar Cup |- | 18. || 9 April 2024 || Zahir Pajaziti Stadium, Podujevë, Kosovo || {{fbw|KOS}} || align=center|0–'''2''' || align=center| 0–6 || rowspan=4| UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying |- | 19. || 31 May 2024 || Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales || {{fbw|UKR}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || align=center| 1–1 |- | 20. || 4 June 2024 || Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski Stadium, Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Poland || {{fbw|UKR}} || align=center| 1–'''1''' || align=center| 2–2 |- | 21. || 12 July 2024 || Stadion Branko Čavlović-Čavlek, Karlovac, Croatia || {{fbw|CRO}} || align=center| 0–'''3''' || align=center| 0–3 |- | 22. || 25 February 2025 || Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales || {{fbw|SWE}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || align=center| 1–1 || 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League |- |}
===Honours=== ===Player=== '''Cardiff City''' *Welsh Women's Cup: 2013, 2016
'''Yeovil Town''' *FA WSL 2: 2016
===Manager=== '''Saltdean United''' *London and South East Women's Regional Football League Cup: 2025-26
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{soccerway|kayleigh-green/236902}}
{{Wales squad UEFA Women's Euro 2025}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barton, Kayleigh}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Wales women's international footballers Category:Welsh women's footballers Category:21st-century Welsh sportswomen Category:Women's association football midfielders Category:Cardiff City Ladies F.C. players Category:Yeovil Town L.F.C. players Category:Women's Super League players Category:Serie A (women's football) players Category:Welsh LGBTQ footballers Category:Welsh lesbian sportswomen Category:21st-century Welsh LGBTQ people Category:Welsh expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Italy Category:Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. players Category:UEFA Women's Euro 2025 players Category:Welsh expatriate women's footballers