Charlie Kelman

Last updated

Charlie Kelman
Charlie Kelman 1412024 (2).jpg
Charlie Kelman in 2024
Personal information
Full name Charlie Robert Martin Lee-Kelman [1]
Date of birth (2001-11-02) November 2, 2001 (age 23) [2]
Place of birth Basildon, England
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) [3]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Charlton Athletic
Number 23
Youth career
FC Dallas
–2018 Southend United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2018–2020 Southend United 31 (6)
2020–2025 Queens Park Rangers 23 (0)
2021Gillingham (loan) 5 (0)
2022Gillingham (loan) 18 (2)
2022–2023Leyton Orient (loan) 43 (7)
2024Wigan Athletic (loan) 14 (3)
2024–2025Leyton Orient (loan) 46 (21)
2025– Charlton Athletic 4 (0)
International career
2018 United States U18 1 (1)
2019 United States U20 19 (7)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:10, August 30, 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 14:10, August 30, 2025 (UTC)

Charlie Robert Martin Lee-Kelman (born November 2, 2001) is a professional soccer player who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Charlton Athletic. Born in England, he represents the United States internationally.

Contents

Club career

Southend United

Kelman scored 61 goals at youth level for Southend United in the 2017–18 season. [4] He made his professional debut for Southend in a League One match against Plymouth Argyle on January 12, 2019. [5] He also scored his first professional goal in that match, finding the net from inside his own half in the second minute of stoppage time at the end despite Southend United losing 3–2. [5] Kelman played in 10 games and scored one goal in his first full season as a professional with Southend. [6] In his second season playing for Southend's first team, Kelman played in 18 games and was Southend's leading scorer in League One with five goals. [6] In his last season with Southend, Kelman made two appearances in EFL League Two before transferring to Queens Park Rangers before the end of the summer transfer window. [6]

Queens Park Rangers

On October 14, 2020, Kelman joined Queens Park Rangers on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. [7]

Kelman appeared 26 times in the Rangers first team, mainly coming on from the bench scoring no goals in his time at Loftus Road.

Upon returning from his highly successful second loan spell at Leyton Orient Kelman informed QPR CEO Christian Nourry he did not want to extend his contract at the club leading to the club deciding to listen to offers for him [8]

Loans to Gillingham

On August 31, 2021, Kelman joined Gillingham on a season-long loan. [9] He returned however to his parent club in November due to frustrations about a lack of playing time. [10] On January 14, 2022, with previous manager Steve Evans having left the club, Kelman returned to Gillingham for the remainder of the season. [11]

Leyton Orient (first loan)

On July 25, 2022, Kelman signed for League Two club Leyton Orient on a season-long loan deal. [12]

Wigan Athletic (loan)

On January 31, 2024, Kelman signed a contract extension with Queens Park Rangers, subsequently joining League One club Wigan Athletic on loan for the remainder of the season. [13]

Leyton Orient (second loan)

On June 29, 2024, Kelman signed for League One club Leyton Orient on a season-long loan deal. [14]

Having helped the club reach the play-offs, winning the League One Golden Boot with twenty-one goals, Kelman was named EFL League One Player of the Month for April 2025. [15]

Charlton Athletic

On July 27, 2025, Charlton Athletic made an offer which Queens Park Rangers accepted leading to Kelman signing a four-year contract with the Addicks. [16]

International career

Kelman is eligible to represent England and the United States. He spent much of his youth in Dallas, Texas, including time in the setup of FC Dallas, before moving back to England. [17] [18] He has represented the United States at the under-18 and under-20 levels. [19]

Personal life

Kelman attended The Bromfords School in Wickford alongside former Southend teammate Matt Rush. [20]

Career statistics

As of match played August 30, 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup EFL Cup OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Southend United 2018–19 [21] League One 10100001 [a] 0111
2019–20 [22] League One185001200197
2020–21 [23] League Two 3000101 [a] 050
Total316002220358
Queens Park Rangers 2020–21 [23] Championship 1101000120
2021–22 [24] Championship10002030
2022–23 [25] Championship00000000
2023–24 [26] Championship1100000110
2024–25 [27] Championship00000000
Total2301020260
Gillingham (loan) 2021–22 [24] League One23200003 [a] 0262
Leyton Orient (loan) 2022–23 [25] League Two43710102 [a] 0477
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2023–24 [26] League One1430000143
Leyton Orient (loan) 2024–25 [27] League One462141318 [b] 46127
Charlton Athletic 2025–26 [28] Championship40002060
Career total184396110315421547
  1. 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. Five appearances and two goals in the EFL Trophy and three appearances and two goals in the EFL League One play-offs

Honors

Leyton Orient

Individual

References

  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Southend United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 67. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  2. Phillips, Chris (November 15, 2018). "Southend United boss Chris Powell praises debutant Charlie Kelman". Basildon Canvey Southend Echo. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  3. Orient, Leyton. "Leyton Orient". Leyton Orient. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  4. "West Ham and Brighton very interested in prolific Charlie Kelman". HITC. November 2, 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Southend United 2–3 Plymouth Argyle". Soccerway.
  6. 1 2 3 "USA - C. Kelman - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  7. "Charlie Kelman completes QPR switch". Queens Park Rangers F.C. October 14, 2020.
  8. Charlie Kelman joins Charlton Athletic, QPR
  9. Charlie Kelman loaned to Gillingham, QPR
  10. "Kelman returns". www.qpr.co.uk. November 3, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  11. "Charlie Kelman returns to Priestfield on loan". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. January 14, 2022.
  12. "Charlie Kelman arrives in E10!". www.leytonorient.com. July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  13. "Charlie Kelman joins Wigan on loan". www.qpr.co.uk. January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  14. "Charlie Kelman becomes the O's second summer signing!". www.leytonorient.com. June 29, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Sky Bet League One: Manager and Player of the Month April Winners". www.efl.com. May 9, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  16. "Charlie Kelman joins the Addicks!". Charlton Athletic Official Site. July 27, 2025. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  17. "U.S. youth international scores 60-yard debut goal in League One". Goal. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019.
  18. Sciaretta, Brian (February 27, 2019). "On the rise with Southend United, Kelman eyes top goal with U.S. U-20's". American Soccer Now. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  19. Phillips, Chris (July 3, 2018). "Southend United youngster Charlie Kelman aims to kick on". Basildon Canvey Southend Echo. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  20. "Kelman returns to The Bromfords School". Southend United F.C. February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  21. "Games played by Charlie Kelman in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  22. "Games played by Charlie Kelman in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  23. 1 2 "Games played by Charlie Kelman in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  24. 1 2 "Games played by Charlie Kelman in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  25. 1 2 "Games played by Charlie Kelman in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  26. 1 2 "Games played by Charlie Kelman in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  27. 1 2 "Games played by Charlie Kelman in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  28. "Games played by Charlie Kelman in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  29. "Leyton Orient 2–0 Crewe: Richie Wellens' side seal League Two title". Sky Sports. April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  30. "Charlie Kelman awarded Golden Boot for 2024/25 Sky Bet League One campaign". www.leytonorient.com. May 7, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  31. "Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey win PFA Player of the Year awards for 2024/25". Sky Sports. August 19, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.