Omari Kellyman
{{Short description|Footballer (born 2005)}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Omari Kellyman
| image =
| caption =
| full_name = Omari Jamian Kellyman{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/2786707|title=2022/23 Premier League squad lists|date=16 September 2022|accessdate=24 July 2023|website=premierleague.com}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2005|9|15|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/under19/teams/players/250168747/ |title=Omari Kellyman |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |access-date=4 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404230430/https://www.uefa.com/under19/teams/players/250168747/ |archive-date=4 April 2024}}
| birth_place = Derby, England
| height = 1.91 m
| position = Attacking midfielder
| currentclub = Chelsea
| clubnumber = 37
| youthyears1 = 2012–2022
| youthclubs1 = Derby County
| youthyears2 = 2022–2023
| youthclubs2 = Aston Villa
| years1 = 2023–2024
| clubs1 = Aston Villa
| caps1 = 2
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2024–
| clubs2 = Chelsea
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2021
| nationalteam1 = Northern Ireland U17
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2022
| nationalteam2 = Northern Ireland U18
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2023–
| nationalteam3 = England U19
| nationalcaps3 = 7
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalcaps4 = 2
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| club-update = 18:56, 19 May 2024
| nationalteam-update = 08:41, 14 June 2024 (UTC)
}}
Omari Jamian Kellyman (born 15 September 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for {{English football updater|Chelsea}} club Chelsea.
Kellyman was a product of the Derby County and Aston Villa academies, making his professional debut at the latter in August 2023. Having broken into the senior Aston Villa side in the 2023–24 season, he subsequently signed for Chelsea in June 2024.
Born in England, he has represented both England and Northern Ireland at youth international level.
Early life
Kellyman was born in Derby, England, to a mother from Northern Ireland and a Ghanaian father.{{Cite web|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/ghanaian-teen-kellyman-omari-signs-first-professional-contract-with-aston-villa|title=Ghanaian teen Kellyman Omari signs first professional contract with Aston Villa - Ghana Latest Football News, Live Scores, Results - GHANAsoccernet}}{{cite web |last=Beacom |first=Steven |date=19 March 2023 |title=Northern Ireland lose another top teenager as Omari Kellyman opts for England |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/sport/northern-ireland-lose-another-top-teenager-as-omari-kellyman-opts-for-england/1251745972.html |access-date=24 July 2023 |website=Belfast Telegraph}} As a child he attended the Landau Forte College.{{cite web|url=https://landau-forte.org.uk/2022/09/congratulations-omari/|title=Congratulations Omari!|date=26 September 2022|access-date=24 July 2023|website=landau-forte.org.uk}}
Club career
=Derby County=
Kellyman joined the academy of Derby County in 2012, and progressed through the club's academy, being named on the bench for an EFL Championship game against AFC Bournemouth on 21 November 2021, though he did not feature.{{cite web|url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/derby-county-aston-villa-transfer-6763610|title=Youngster's heartfelt message on leaving Derby County for Aston Villa|first=Steve|last=Nicholson|date=7 March 2022|access-date=24 July 2023|website=derbytelegraph.co.uk}}
=Aston Villa=
In March 2022, after ten years with Derby County, he joined the academy of Premier League side Aston Villa, with the club reportedly paying £600,000 in compensation. He signed his first professional contract in September of the same year, having already featured for the under-21 side in the EFL Trophy, with academy manager Mark Harrison stating that the club were "delighted" that he had signed, and that they were "very pleased with his development so far".{{cite web|url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2022/september/20/kellyman-signs-pro-contract/|title=Kellyman signs pro contract|date=20 September 2022|access-date=24 July 2023|website=avfc.co.uk}}{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-omari-kellyman-aston-villa-26556052|title=Who is Omari Kellyman? Aston Villa youngster scores 'superb' goal in front of Unai Emery|first=John|last=Townley|date=24 March 2023|access-date=24 July 2023|website=birminghammail.co.uk}}
The following year, he was nominated for the Premier League 2's Player of the Month award for February, following stellar performances for Aston Villa's youth team.{{cite web|url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2023/march/02/kellyman-up-for-pl2-player-of-the-month-award/|title=Kellyman up for PL2 Player of the Month award|date=2 March 2023|access-date=24 July 2023|website=avfc.co.uk}} He scored Aston Villa's only goal in a 3–1 friendly loss to Bristol Rovers on 24 March 2023,{{cite web|url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2023/march/24/villa-host-bristol-rovers-in-friendly/|title=Villa host Bristol Rovers in friendly|date=24 March 2023|access-date=24 July 2023|website=avfc.co.uk}} before helping Aston Villa to the 2023 HKFC International Soccer Sevens title, scoring twice in a 3–0 win in the final against Tai Po and being named Player of the Tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/omari-kellyman-shines-aston-villa-27009665|title=Omari Kellyman shines as Aston Villa youngsters reign supreme in Hong Kong|first=Alex|last=Dicken|date=28 May 2023|access-date=24 July 2023|website=birminghammail.co.uk}}
Kellyman was named as part of the Aston Villa senior squad's pre-season squad, including a tour of the USA, in July 2023 and played in their Premier League Summer Series match against Newcastle United. Having started the match on the bench he was brought on in the second half; his shot hitting the post and rebounding resulted in a tap-in goal for Emi Buendía.{{Cite web |title=Buendia stars as goals keep raining in Philadelphia |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/3601622 |access-date=2023-07-24 |website=www.premierleague.com |language=en}}
On 31 August 2023, Kellyman made his professional debut in a 3–0 UEFA Europa Conference League victory over Hibernian, providing an assist for Leon Bailey's goal.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-08-31 |title=Aston Villa 3-0 Hibernian (8-0 agg) |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2023/august/31/aston-villa-v-hibernian/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=Aston Villa Football Club |language=en}} On 25 October 2023, Kellyman signed a new "long-term" contract at Aston Villa.{{Cite web |last=Maher |first=Matt |date=2023-10-25 |title=Teenage star Omari Kellyman earns long Aston Villa deal |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/aston-villa/2023/10/25/teenage-star-omari-kellyman-earns-long-aston-villa-deal/ |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=www.expressandstar.com |language=en}} On 7 November 2023, Kellyman suffered a hamstring injury whilst playing for Aston Villa U21s in the EFL Trophy against Crawley Town, which was estimated to sideline him until the new year.{{Cite web |last=Tanswell |first=Jacob |date=2023-11-13 |title=Kellyman out until next year with hamstring injury |url=https://theathletic.com/live-blogs/premier-league-news-live-updates-injury/z8nS6sSxjkIP/LmJkIxdyFIeR/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}
On 3 April 2024, Kellyman made his Premier League debut, in a 4–1 away defeat to Manchester City.{{Cite web |title=Man City 4-1 Aston Villa: Phil Foden's hat-trick takes Pep Guardiola's side to within one point of top spot |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/manchester-city-vs-aston-villa/report/482899 |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}
= Chelsea =
On 29 June 2024, Kellyman joined fellow Premier League club Chelsea on a six-year contract with an option of an additional year,{{Cite web |date=29 June 2024 |title=Chelsea complete Omari Kellyman signing! |url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/chelsea-complete-omari-kellyman-signing |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=Chelsea FC |language=en-gb}} for a reported fee of £19m.{{Cite news |last=Townley |first=John |date=29 June 2024 |title=Chelsea complete £19m Aston Villa transfer |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/breaking-chelsea-complete-19m-aston-29406724 |access-date=29 June 2024 |work=Birmingham Mail}}
International career
Having represented Northern Ireland at both under-17 and under-18 level, Kellyman officially opted to switch his international allegiance to the country of his birth, England, in September 2023, following reports which surfaced in March of the same year.{{Cite news |last=Beacon |first=Steven |date=3 September 2023 |title=Northern Ireland lose another promising teenager as Premier League talent declares for England |language=en-GB |work=Belfast Telegraph |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/sport/northern-ireland-lose-another-promising-teenager-as-premier-league-talent-declares-for-england/a191014906.html |access-date=4 September 2023 |issn=0307-1235}}
On 1 September 2023, Kellyman received a call-up for England under-19s for their upcoming matches against Germany and Switzerland.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1 September 2023 |title=England MU19s squad named to play Germany and Switzerland |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Sep/01/england-mu19s-squad-named-to-play-germany-and-switzerland-20230109 |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=The Football Association |language=en}} He went on to make his U19 debut during a 1–0 defeat to Germany in Oliva on 6 September 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Sep/06/england-mens-under-19s-germany-report-20230906|title=Report: England MU19s 0-1 Germany|date=6 September 2023|website=England Football}}
In May 2024, Kellyman was called up by England under-20s for the first time, but was replaced by Romain Esse later.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=England men's Elite League squad named for June games |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/May/24/england-mens-elite-squad-named-sweden-republic-of-ireland-games-20242405 |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=The Football Association |language=en}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 19 May 2024}}{{Soccerway|omari-kellyman/766763}}
| 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|EFL Cup !colspan=2|Europe !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="3"|Aston Villa U21
|colspan=3|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2023–24
|colspan=3|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 2{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||3||1||3||1 | ||||||||||||
| Aston Villa
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League|name=UECL}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 6 | 0 | ||
| Chelsea
|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!2||0||0||0||1||0||3||0||3||1||9||1 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{WorldFootball.net|omari-kellyman}}
{{Chelsea F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kellyman, Omari}}
Category:Footballers from Derby
Category:Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland
Category:Northern Ireland men's youth international footballers
Category:English men's footballers
Category:English people of Northern Ireland descent
Category:English people of Ghanaian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Ghanaian descent
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Derby County F.C. players
Category:Aston Villa F.C. players
Category:England men's youth international footballers