Jeremy Kelly (born October 21, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for USL Championship club Charleston Battery.
Youth Kelly signed an amateur contract with Carolina RailHawks on March 17, 2016. His amateur status would allow him to play college soccer for North Carolina Tar Heels when their college season began later in the year.
Kelly played four years at UNC, starting 59 of his 79 appearances and tallying one goals and 2 assists. Kelly was an obstacle to the UNC's midfield en route to consecutive NCAA College Cup appearances. He was a second-team All-ACC selection in his senior year.
Professional Colorado Rapids On January 9, 2020, Kelly was selected ninth overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Montreal Impact. His rights were then immediately traded to Colorado Rapids in exchange for $75,000 of General Allocation Money and the Rapids natural first round selection.
On February 25, 2020, the Rapids officially announced the signing of Kelly to an initial one-year contract. He made his MLS debut against Real Salt Lake in the MLS is Back Tournament on July 12, 2020. Kelly recorded his first career assist during a 5–0 win versus Real Salt Lake on Sept. 12. He finished his rookie season with one assist in 246 minutes played across eight appearances at right back, two of them starts. In March 2021, Kelly joined Phoenix Rising FC on loan for the 2021 season.
On July 1, 2021, Kelly was recalled from loan by the Rapids. Following the 2021 season, Colorado opted to decline their contract option on Kelly.
Memphis 901 On February 18, 2022, he signed with USL Championship club Memphis 901. He left Memphis following the 2023 season.
Crawley Town Kelly joined FC Tulsa on January 5, 2024, but Kelly and Tulsa mutually agreed on a termination of his contract a month later. On February 1, 2024, Kelly signed for EFL League Two club Crawley Town on a deal until summer 2024. He made his debut for the club as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Crewe Alexandra on February 10. Kelly appeared in all three of Crawley's League Two play-off matches at the end of the 2023–24 as Crawley were promoted to League One after a 2–0 victory over Crewe Alexandra in the final.
Charleston Battery On June 25, 2025, it was announced Kelly would return to the United States and join USL Championship side Charleston Battery on a multi-year deal, reuniting him with former Memphis manager Ben Pirmann in Charleston.
International Kelly was named to Tab Ramos' U.S. U-20 squad for camp and two friendlies against New York Cosmos and New York Red Bulls II in July 2016. Kelly scored in stoppage time to defeat NYRBII.
Kelly was born in Prague in the Czech Republic, and lived in France until he was 10 years old. He later moved to North Carolina.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCarolina RailHawks2016NASL1010——20San Francisco City2018USL PDL30———30North Carolina FC U232019USL League Two52———52Colorado Rapids2020Major League Soccer80———802021Major League Soccer00———00Total8000000080Phoenix Rising FC (loan)2021USL Championship50———50Memphis 9012022USL Championship34810—203782023USL Championship33331—10374Total67114100307412Crawley Town2023–24EFL League Two181——302112024–25EFL League One373212030444Total554212060655Career total1441772209016219
Honors Crawley Town EFL League Two play-offs: 2024
References
External links
Jeremy Kelly at North Carolina Tar Heels