Keinan Davies has made a brilliant start to the season for Udinese, scoring away at Inter. Adam Bate speaks to the former Aston Villa striker to find out how being dropped from Stevenage as a teenager still motivates him to play in Serie A…
Adam Bate
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Former Aston Villa striker Keinan Davies has responded to his man of the match performance for Udinese against Inter at the San Siro.
When Keinan Davies was weighing up his options in the summer of 2023, the striker was leaning towards a move to the Championship. It was a conversation with his former manager at Biggleswade United that convinced him to choose Udinese.
“Dave Northfield is very important to me and I listen to his opinion,” Davies told Sky Sports. “When I was a bit nervous he would say, 'We can't miss the opportunity to play Inter at San Siro' and stuff like that.”
On the last day of August 2025, there was a spectacular confirmation. In front of more than 70,000 fans at the San Siro, Davies equalised from the penalty spot, provided an assist and left Milan with the man of the match award.
Pictured: Davies celebrates Udinese's first goal in their win against Inter.
“It's nice to feel the love, even from people who don't support Udinese. People from my former teams just write to me because it's San Siro. Where I come from, I never thought I'd score, you know?
“It's a truly historic stadium, to come there and win was just amazing. And to score a goal is just the crowning glory. Taking a penalty in front of all those fans, with all that noise – these are the moments you live for. These are the situations a footballer wants to be in.”
Fans of Davies' former club Nottingham Forest may be a little surprised by the penalty. He did not take one in the shootout that ended Forest's play-off semi-final victory over Sheffield United. “I think I was in seventh place. I was too nervous.”
Pictured: Davies prepares to take a penalty at the San Siro against Yann Sommer.
Before that, at Aston Villa, he had only taken one, and that was for the development squad. “I missed.” But watching Davies exude composure in an Udinese shirt, right down to his halting run-up, it is impossible not to conclude that he has matured.
“I was taking penalties every day in pre-season, just waiting for that moment. I knew we would get a penalty sooner or later, so I was well prepared.” The departures gave him his chance. “I feel like the No.9 has a responsibility.”
It’s a responsibility he relishes, albeit belatedly. Davies played just six games in his first season at Udinese. “A nightmare,” he says. “Terrible. I couldn’t show the fans anything.” His second season was better, but still marred by injuries.
“It was really tough,” Davis admits. “I think your teammates start to respect you when you show what you can do. When you’re training alone, you can’t really connect because your schedule is different. You’re just in a gray area.”
Away games are when you don't travel with the team. It was really hard to feel part of it all and it gets a little stressful sometimes. But now I feel like I've got over it and I feel really comfortable here and everyone can see that.
Davies enjoys life in Udine – “quiet and friendly” – with his wife and daughter. But he hasn’t always felt so comfortable. In fact, Davies freely admits he never really felt at home at Aston Villa. It was a bit of an impostor syndrome.
Pictured: Davies was given the opportunity to play for Aston Villa after leaving Stevenage.
He signed for Biggleswade after leaving Stevenage. Players are often poached from smaller academies. It is rare for them to be released and then sign for a bigger one. “It was such a radical change.” He was not a bright young talent.
“I wasn't even a starting striker. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy made his Premier League debut at 16. I always felt like an outsider who just happened to show up. I was invited on trial, signed a contract. I felt like I wasn't meant to be there, if that's understandable.”
In that context, his 87 appearances for Villa are a triumph. “That mentality helped me a lot,” he says now. “I’ve always had that feeling, that feeling that I have to show people. It’s a real driving force inside me.” It’s a feeling that goes back to that Stevenage rejection.
“Everyone in the area knew I played for Stevenage. It was my identity, and that's not good. 'He plays for Stevenage. He's a footballer.' What are you going to be when you get out? I had to work in my cousin's hairdresser. It was a really tough time.”
Davis got his second chance. “That’s why I’m so grateful to Dave for keeping me in the Biggleswade football team. The scouts came. It was meant to be.” What would he say to young people who might find themselves in a similar situation? “Keep up the good work,” he says.
“Some people don't give up because that's all they have. That's how it was for me. I couldn't be anything else but a footballer. If you really have that fire in you, keep going, stay on track and make your dreams come true.”
Pictured: Davies during his time with Nottingham Forest in the Championship.
Davies says he too is living his friends’ dreams, and that’s not all. Serie A brings out the best in him. He lists his strengths as “pace, strength and the ability to keep the ball and bring others into the game,” qualities that are thought to be particularly valuable in Italy.
“I bring that physicality to Serie A. It's not like the Premier League. In England it's very physical, quite transitional. In Serie A they prefer a low block. It can be difficult. The players are not the fastest or the strongest, but mentally they like to defend.”
“When I played in defence in England, I never thought of playing as a number six and pressing here and there. But here you have to show good numbers, the coach really believes in that. I have improved the most in tactical terms.”
Pictured: Davies is enjoying life at Udinese and has no plans to return to England any time soon.
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He had no choice. “I had to fight really hard to survive.” But now he’s fully healthy, and there’s hope he can have the best season of his career. “Every striker has a number. I definitely have one that I’ve never reached before, but I’m holding on to it for now.”
Some people who move abroad are always eager to prove themselves right when they return. But at 27, Davies no longer thinks in those terms. Especially after the win over Inter. “It gives you confidence. If you can do it against them, you can do it against anyone,” he says.
“I used to think about England. But coming here has opened my eyes. There are a lot of big clubs here, the scale of which I didn't even know. There are Italy, Germany and France. England is not a must now. I just want to enjoy football.”
Sourse: skysports.com
