Josh Kelly (footballer, born 1998)

For other people with a similar name, see Josh Kelly (disambiguation).

Josh Kelly

Personal information
Full name	Joshua Anthony Kelly [1]
Date of birth	(1998-12-19) 19 December 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Windsor, England [2]
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) [3]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	AFC Wimbledon
Number	10
Youth career
–2014	Ascot United
2014–2015	Windsor
2015–2017	Maidenhead United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015	Windsor	4	(0)
2016–2022	Maidenhead United	128	(26)
2017	→ Chalfont St Peter (loan)	4	(0)
2017–2018	→ Walton Casuals (loan)	40	(28)
2022–2024	Solihull Moors	72	(24)
2024–	AFC Wimbledon	36	(3)
International career
2019	Northern Ireland U21	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:00, 31 December 2024 (UTC)

Joshua Anthony Kelly (born 19 December 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League Two club AFC Wimbledon.

Career

Windsor

Kelly started his career in the youth team at Ascot United before joining Windsor in 2014 aged 15. He made his first team debut as a 16-year-old in February 2015. ^[4]

Maidenhead United

In summer 2015, Kelly joined the under-18 team at Maidenhead United and made his first team debut in October 2016. After two loan spell away from the club, Kelly returned to Maidenhead in summer 2018 and began to feature much more frequently in the first team across the next two seasons. He initially left the club at the end of the 2019-20 season with the intention of joining an English Football League club, but no move materialised and he returned to the Magpies ahead of the new campaign. ^{[5] [6]} In the 2021–22 season he reached double figures in a National League season for the first time and won the golden boot, manager's player, and players' player awards at the end of the season. ^[7]

Chalfont St Peter (loan)

Kelly went on loan to Chalfont St Peter during the 2016–17 season.

Walton Casuals (loan)

In 2017–18, Kelly spent the entire season on loan at Walton Casuals, where he was the club's top scorer with 39 goals.

Solihull Moors

On 22 July 2022, Kelly signed a three-year deal at Solihull Moors, joining for an undisclosed fee. ^[8] He scored 25 goals in 79 games in all competitions for the Moors.

AFC Wimbledon

On 1 February 2024, Kelly signed for League Two club AFC Wimbledon for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal with the option for a third. ^[9] He scored his first goals for Wimbledon when he scored twice in a 3–2 loss at Tranmere Rovers on 20 April 2024. ^[10]

International career

In March 2019, Kelly was called up to the Northern Ireland U21 squad for two friendly matches in Marbella, playing in matches against Bulgaria U21 and Mexico U21. ^[11] The Irish Football Association were not sure of Kelly's eligibility when these matches were played, and it later transpired that he was not eligible to play for Northern Ireland. ^[12]

Career statistics

As of matches played 31 December 2024

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Windsor	2014–15 [4]	CCL Premier Division	4	0	0	0	—		2 [a]	0	6	0
Maidenhead United	2016–17 [13]	National League South	1	0	0	0	—		2 [b]	1	3	1
	2018–19 [14]	National League	39	6	3	0	—		2 [c]	0	44	6
	2019–20 [14]	National League	29	4	3	2	—		1 [d]	1	33	7
	2020–21 [14]	National League	20	1	1	0	—		0	0	21	1
	2021–22 [14]	National League	39	15	2	2	—		0	0	41	17
	Total		128	26	9	4	—		5	2	142	32
Chalfont St Peter (loan)	2016–17 [13]	SFL Division One Central	4	0	0	0	—		2 [e]	0	6	0
Walton Casuals (loan)	2017–18 [15]	Isthmian League Division One South	40	28	2	1	—		9 [f]	10	51	39
Solihull Moors	2022–23 [14]	National League	45	11	3	0	—		2 [g]	0	50	11
	2023–24 [14]	National League	27	13	1	0	—		1 [h]	1	29	14
	Total		72	24	4	0	—		3	1	79	25
AFC Wimbledon	2023–24	League Two	17	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	17	2
	2024-25	League Two	19	1	2	0	2	1	4	0	27	2
	Total		36	3	2	0	2	1	4	0	44	4
Career total			284	81	17	5	2	1	25	13	327	100

1. One appearance in CCL Premier Cup, one appearance in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup.
2. Two appearances and one goal in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup.
3. One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup.
4. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy.
5. Two appearances in Southern Football League Cup.
6. Two appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, three appearances and three goals in Alan Turvey Trophy, one appearance and five goals in Southern Combination Challenge Cup, one appearance in Surrey Senior Cup, two appearances and one goal in Isthmian League Division One South play-offs.
7. Two appearances FA Trophy.
8. One appearance and one goal FA Trophy.

References

1. "The Football Association - List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2015 and 31/08/2015". Archived from the original on 24 October 2019.
2. "'I've tried so many times to score one like it' – Josh Kelly". 5 May 2020.
3. "Josh Kely - ESPN". 5 May 2020.
4. "Josh Kelly – Windsor FC". Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
5. "Kelly feels time is right for a new challenge and hopes he can fulfill his potential". Maidenhead Advertiser. 10 July 2020.
6. "Josh Kelly ready to 'push on' after penning new deal with Magpies". Maidenhead Advertiser. 12 August 2020.
7. "Kelly very nearly cleans up at Maidenhead United's end of season awards". Maidenhead Advertiser. 19 May 2022.
8. "Moors clinch Josh Kelly signing". Solihull Moors FC. 22 July 2022.
9. "Kelly complete! In-form striker signs". afcwimbledon.co.uk. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
10. "Tranmere 3-2 Wimbledon". BBC. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
11. International Duty Recap
12. Rob Davies (9 March 2022). "Yash in at Thatcham, the Women's Pyramid and the nationality of Josh Kelly". Audioboom (Podcast). Berkshire Football Stories. Event occurs at 27:58. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
13. "Josh Kelly Profile | Aylesbury United FC".
14. "Northern Ireland - J. Kelly - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".
15. Josh Kelly - Football Web Pages