Kyrell Lisbie, I owe you an apology
- Matt Mecham
- Dec 23
- 4 min read
The hectic summer transfer window brought in many players ready for first-team action.
It was a blend of proven names like Alex Bass, Tom Lees, Ben Woods and Brendan Khela, alongside a handful of lesser-known prospects.
The first signing of the summer was a winger called Kyrell Lisbie, and my first thought was...
Who?
I’m not an armchair scout or a Football Manager obsessive, but I usually have a sense of the game’s emerging names, and Lisbie wasn’t on my list.
A quick Google turned up more about his TikTok videos than his footballing pedigree, and I’ll admit I pegged him as a novelty signing, one better suited to the media team than the matchday squad.
Given his background and the transition from social media personality to a player, I feared he might struggle to adapt to League One.
Twenty-five games, five goals and two assists later, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
From creator to contract
Kyrell Lisbie’s journey into professional football was well documented via his TikTok account, which had hundreds of thousands of followers.
He switched from posting FIFA clips during lockdown to sharing the highs and lows of chasing a professional career with his twin brother Kyreece under the guidance of his father.
Kevin Lisbie had a distinguished career, most notably with Charlton Athletic, where he made over 100 appearances in the Premier League and scored a memorable hat-trick against Liverpool.
Kevin’s experience gave Kyrell not only technical and tactical insight but also resilience and perspective on how hard the climb to the professional level can be.
And Kyrell had plenty of setbacks
His career began in Leyton Orient's youth academy, but he struggled with injuries before being released after 18 months.
Trials with Colchester United, Watford, Millwall, and West Ham were unsuccessful.
His first taste of competitive senior football came near the bottom of the football pyramid with Cray Valley during two spells in 2021 and 2023, where he impressed with 19 goals in 29 appearances in his last season with the club.
National League’s Braintree Town came in for him the following year, where he won the Sportsbeat Young Player of the Year award.
This breakthrough season got the attention of a club known for finding and shaping non-league talent.
Welcome to Peterborough United
Our reputation for developing young talent won his signature.
I expected that he’d join the Under 21s to develop before spending a few years on the fringes of the first team.
This seemed even more likely when Darren Ferguson, later in the window recruited for a system without wingers.
However, our terrible form and injury issues at the start of the season saw him involved in the men’s first team almost immediately.
Under Ferguson, he was used initially as a substitute, getting his first professional minute against Cardiff before claiming a starting spot as the manager searched for a winning combination.
He struggled to make an impact in Ferguson’s system with his raw ability yet to be refined.
That all changed in November
His development under Williams has been nothing short of miraculous.
He has doubled his successful dribbles per 90 minutes and increased his defensive actions by 40%, showcasing a significant improvement in both his attacking and defensive roles.
For a 22-year-old making a direct leap from non-league, Lisbie’s rate of improvement over a matter of weeks has been quicker than anyone could reasonably have expected.
While he’s not the finished article, there’s a lot to like.
What I love
He already looks comfortable in League One, and his direct running gives defenders no end of trouble.
His pace and willingness to take on players make him exciting to watch.
I’d go as far as to say that he looks like he’s from the same mould as Ephron Mason-Clark and Siriki Dembélé.
All three share exceptional pace, a relentless work ethic, and impressive dribbling skills. They are direct, high-energy attackers who cause chaos for the back line.
In a squad plagued by fitness concerns, Lisbie stands out for an engine that never seems to stop, running relentlessly from the first minute to the last.
What needs work
Lisbie is great at carrying the ball up the pitch, but his decision-making in the final third can be poor.
There have been encouraging signs of improvement in recent games, most notably when he’s looked to pull the ball back for Harry Leonard rather than forcing a shot himself.
However, there are times when he simply runs the ball out of play or chooses the difficult option when a pass would keep the attack alive.
It’s the sort of decision-making that separates raw threat from reliable output.
What I’m concerned about
The fact that he’s clocked up over 1400 minutes already this season is a worry, given our history with injuries.
We simply cannot afford to have him out long-term.
While Declan Frith can play on the left wing, I hope that some cover is found for him in the January window, as I’m not convinced Frith can stay fit until the end of the season.
An injury to Lisbie, similar to the one Harley Mills now faces, could seriously hinder our push up the table.
The future’s bright
Considering that he was uploading FIFA clips to TikTok around the time Jonson Clarke-Harris buried that penalty against Lincoln, the shift from part-time to professional has been sensational.
My expectations were low when he signed for Posh, but he’s quickly become one of my favourite players.
His rapid development in the first few months of his first professional contract has been outstanding.
He has gone from a fringe player who frustrates to an exciting key man involved in most of our attacking movements.
I’d put money on him following in the footsteps of previous Posh wingers in making the move up to the championship before long.
Let’s hope that isn’t for a few more years yet, though.
Kyrell, sorry for doubting you
Who knew you'd transform from the guy who made me ask "Who?" into one of the most promising players in the team.
Here's to your bright future and continuing success.
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