{{short description|Welsh footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Kiban Rai | image = Kiban-Rai-Newport-County-1024x576.jpg | caption = Rai after scoring against Brentford in the EFL Cup in 2023 | fullname = Kiban Hang Rai<ref>{{cite web|url=https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gc-media-assets.gc.eflservices.co.uk/9edd2ed0-6c4a-11ef-9965-335248f7bb41.pdf|title=Squad List 2024/25 & U21 Registered Contract Players|publisher=English Football League|date=6 September 2024|accessdate=14 September 2024}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|10|24|df=y}} | birth_place = Brecon, Wales | height = 5 ft 11 in<ref>[https://www.newport-county.co.uk/player/13 Newport County profile]</ref> | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Merthyr Town<br />(on loan from Aldershot Town) | clubnumber = 7 | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2021| youthclubs1 = Brecon Corinthians | youthyears2 = 2021–2023| youthclubs2 = Newport County | years1 = 2023–2025 | clubs1 = Newport County | caps1 = 21 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2025 | clubs2 = → Merthyr Town (loan) | caps2 = 4 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2025– | clubs3 = Aldershot Town | caps3 = 18 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2026– | clubs4 = → Merthyr Town (loan) | caps4 = 9 | goals4 = 3 | club-update = 14:46, 22 March 2026 (UTC) }}
'''Kiban Hang Rai''' (born 24 October 2004) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Merthyr Town on loan from {{English football updater|AldershT}} club Aldershot Town.
==Career== ===Newport County=== Rai joined the youth academy of Newport County at under-15 level from Brecon Corinthians.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2021/july2/9-new-academy-scholars/|title=Academy | Nine new scholars confirmed for 2021/22 season|website=www.newport-county.co.uk|access-date=6 March 2023|archive-date=6 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306005644/https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2021/july2/9-new-academy-scholars/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Kiban Rai signs first professional contract |url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/20232/june/kiban-rai-signs-first-professional-contract |website=newport-county.co.uk |date=25 June 2023 |accessdate=3 February 2026}}</ref> He made his senior debut for Newport in the 3–1 EFL League Two away defeat to Salford City at Moor Lane on 5 March 2023 as a second-half substitute for Nathan Moriah-Welsh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64760963|title=Salford come from behind to beat Newport|work=BBC Sport |date=4 March 2023 |access-date=14 March 2023|archive-date=15 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315022121/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64760963|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/23377992.newport-county-hope-academy-talent-follows-kiban-rai-lead/|title=Surprise visits and high standards – County's top duo aim to use academy talent|website=South Wales Argus|date=10 March 2023 |access-date=13 March 2023|archive-date=13 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313153812/https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/23377992.newport-county-hope-academy-talent-follows-kiban-rai-lead/|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2023 Rai signed his first professional contract with Newport County<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/20232/june/kiban-rai-signs-first-professional-contract/|title=Kiban Rai signs first professional contract|website=www.newport-county.co.uk}}</ref> On 29 August 2023 Rai scored his first goal for Newport, the 96th minute equaliser in the EFL Cup 1-1 draw against Brentford of the Premier League, which Brentford won on penalties.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66577562 Rai first Newport goal]</ref>
On 30 January 2025 Rai joined Southern League club Merthyr Town on loan for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.<ref>[https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/kiban-rai-joins-merthyr-town-loan Rai Merthyr loab]</ref> He was released by Newport County at the end of the 2024-25 season.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cev4ew3zn70o Rai released by Newport]</ref>
===Aldershot Town=== On 25 June 2025, Rai agreed to join National League side Aldershot Town.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theshots.co.uk/new-signing-kiban-rai/|title=NEW SIGNING: Kiban Rai|website=www.theshots.co.uk|date=25 June 2025|accessdate=25 June 2025}}</ref>
On 3 February 2026, Rai agreed to return to Merthyr Town on loan for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theshots.co.uk/kiban-rai-departs-on-loan/|title=KIBAN RAI DEPARTS ON LOAN|website=www.theshots.co.uk|date=3 February 2026|accessdate=3 February 2026}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|14 March 2026}} {| 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|FA Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|Newport County |2022–23<ref>{{soccerbase season|175245|2022|accessdate=25 June 2025}}</ref> |League Two |4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||0 |- |2023–24<ref>{{soccerbase season|175245|2023|accessdate=25 June 2025}}</ref> |League Two |14||0||3||0||1||1||2{{efn|name=EFT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}}||0||20||1 |- |2024–25<ref>{{soccerbase season|175245|2024|accessdate=25 June 2025}}</ref> |League Two |4||0||0||0||1||0||1{{efn|name=EFT}}||0||6||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !22!!0!!3!!0!!2!!1!!3!!0!!30!!1 |- |Merthyr Town (loan) |2024–25<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com/player/kiban-rai/44973|title=Kiban Rai {{!}} Player Profile - Aylesbury United Archive|website=www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com|accessdate=25 June 2025}}</ref> |Southern League Premier Division South |4||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||4||1 |- |Aldershot Town |2025–26<ref>{{Soccerway|896277}}</ref> |National League |18||0||1||1||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|name=NLC|Appearance(s) in National League Cup}}||1||23||2 |- |Merthyr Town (loan) |2025–26<ref>{{Soccerway|896277}}</ref> |National League North |9||3||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||9||3 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !53!!4!!4!!1!!2!!1!!7!!1!!66!!7 |} {{notelist}}
==Personal life== Rai was born in Brecon, Wales, and he also qualifies to represent Nepal through his parents.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/23390750.kiban-rai-hunts-action-shock-newport-county-debut/ |title=Rai debut interview |date=16 March 2023 |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317122016/https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/23390750.kiban-rai-hunts-action-shock-newport-county-debut/ |url-status=live }}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dasfootball.com/kiban-rai-a-historic-signing-for-newport-county/|title=Newport County: Kiban Rai becomes first Nepalese player in EFL|website=DasFootball|date=26 June 2023 |access-date=26 June 2023}}</ref> His father was a British Army Gurkha and in 2023 Kiban Rai became the first player of Nepalese descent to sign a professional contract in the Premier League or EFL when he joined Newport County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66053450|title=Gurkha's son aims to inspire – and play for Wales|work=BBC Sport |date=30 June 2023 }}</ref>
==Style of play== Rai operates as a striker or attacking midfielder.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/23377992.newport-county-hope-academy-talent-follows-kiban-rai-lead/|title=Newport County hope academy talent follows Kiban Rai lead|date=10 March 2023 |publisher=southwalesargus.co.uk|access-date=13 March 2023|archive-date=13 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313153812/https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/23377992.newport-county-hope-academy-talent-follows-kiban-rai-lead/|url-status=live}}</ref> He is known for his creativity and technical ability.<ref name="auto"/>
==Honours== '''Merthyr Town ''' * Southern League Premier Division South Champion: 2024-2025
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase|175245}} *{{Soccerway|896277}} *[https://www.newport-county.co.uk/teams/first-team/forward/kiban-rai/ Newport County AFC Kiban Rai profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rai, Kiban}} Category:2005 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Brecon Category:Footballers from Powys Category:Welsh men's footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Newport County A.F.C. players Category:Merthyr Town F.C. players Category:Aldershot Town F.C. players Category:Welsh people of Nepalese descent Category:British Asian footballers Category:English Football League players Category:Southern Football League players Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen