Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean signed for Norwich on 22nd January 2018 on a three and a half year deal. He was reported to have cost £200,000 as he was out of contract at the end of the 2017/18 season. He was then loaned back to Abderdeen for the remainder of the campaign. He scored seven goals in 18 appearances whilst on loan.

McLean began his career with both Aberdeen and Rangers' youth set-ups. When released by Rangers, he joined St Mirren. In December 2009, he was loaned to Arbroath where he made his professional debut. He made 23 appearances but Arbroath were relegated to the Third Division.

He returned to St Mirren and became a first team regular. He made 152 appearances scoring 24 goals.

On 2nd February 2015, he joined Aberdeen for £300,000 and played for them on 140 occasions, scoring 18 goals.

After being capped at Under-19 and Under-21 (once) level, he won his first full cap for Scotland in March 2016 in a friendly against the Czech Republic. He had won one further cap at the time of his transfer to Norwich.

McLean came on in the 63rd minute for Tom Trybull to make his Norwich debut in the 2-2 draw at Birmingham on 4th August 2018. it was reported that he immediately added urgency and drive to City’s attacks and popped up all over the pitch to take possession and look for openings. He then missed a large period of the season through injury.

McLean scored his first goals for Norwich in the 3-2 win over Bristol City at Carrow Road on 23rd February 2019. He scored his first goal for Scotland in the 2-0 win over San Marino on 24th March 2019.

Kenny made 22 appearances, scoring three goals, in his first season at Norwich as the Canaries won the Championship and promotion to the Premier League.

On 28th January 2020, McLean was linked with a £10million transfer to West Ham according to The Sun. The Hammers are claimed to have been watching the 28-year-old over the past few months with an initial intention to make a summer move for the former Aberdeen favourite.McLean was a regular under Daniel Farke in 2019/20 and ended the season with 42 appearances (and one goal) as City were relegated.

On 8th October 2020, McLean scored the winning penalty as Scotland beat Israel in their first ever penalty shoot-out to set up a UEFA Euro 2020 playoff final against Serbia. On 12th November 2020 Scotland drew 1-1 with Serbia in Belgrade. The game went to a penalty shoot-out and Mclean scored Scotland's fifth before David Marshall saved from Aleksandar Mitrovic to send Scotland to their first major championship since 1998. A few days later McLean was linked with a move to Scottish giants Rangers.

McLean made 39 appearances during 2020/21, scoring three goals, as Norwich won the Championship title. Unfortunately an injury on the final day of the season at Barnsley ruled him out of the Euro 2020 Championships.

He made 34 appearances, scoring three goals, in 2021/22 as Norwich finished bottom of the Premier League.

He made 37 appearances in Norwich's disappoining 2022/23 Championship season.

On 29th August 2023, it was reported that Leeds made a £4million bid for McLean which was rejected flat out by the Canaries.

He made a total of 52 appearances in 2023/24, scoring twice, as Norwich finished sixth reaching the Championship play-offs, before losing 4-0 to Leeds.

On 9th June 2024 Mclean was included in the final Scotland squad for the 2024 European Championships. Scotland are in Group A along with hosts Germany, Hungary and Switzerland. McLean appeared in all three group stage games, each time as substitute as Scotland finished bottom of Group A.

On 24th June 2024 Kenny was linked by The Daily Record with a move to Rangers. The report stated Philippe Clement and his recruitment team have made McLean a target as they seek to bolster their squad in a bid to prize the Scottish Premiership title away from Old Firm rivals Celtic next season. It adds that members of Rangers' recruitment team watched McLean both during the backend of City's Championship campaign and during the Euros. McLean was then linked on 15th July 2024 with a £1.5million move to Sheffield United with Swansea also said to be keen.