Omari Kellyman

Omari Kellyman

Personal information
Full name	Omari Jamian Kellyman [1]
Date of birth	(2005-09-15) 15 September 2005 (age 18) [2]
Place of birth	Derby, England
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	Aston Villa
Number	71
Youth career
2012–2022	Derby County
2022–2023	Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–	Aston Villa	1	(0)
International career‡
2021	Northern Ireland U17	3	(2)
2022	Northern Ireland U18	3	(0)
2023–	England U19	7	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:54, 24 March 2024 (UTC)

Omari Jamian Kellyman (born 15 September 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a attacking midfielder for Aston Villa. Born in England, he has represented both England and Northern Ireland at youth international level. Kellyman is a product of the Aston Villa and Derby County academies.

Early life

Kellyman was born in Derby, to a mother from Northern Ireland and a Jamaican father. ^{[3] [4]} As a child he attended the Landau Forte College. ^[5]

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. ^[6]

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. ^[6] 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". ^{[7] [8]}

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. ^[9] He scored Aston Villa's only goal in a 3–1 friendly loss to Bristol Rovers on 24 March 2023, ^{[8] [10]} 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. ^[11]

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. ^[12]

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. ^[13] On 25 October 2023, Kellyman signed a new "long-term" contract at Aston Villa. ^[14] 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. ^[15]

On 3 April 2024, Kellyman made his Premier League debut, in a 4–1 away defeat to Manchester City. ^[16]

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. ^{[17] [4]}

On 1 September 2023, Kellyman received a call-up for England under-19s for their upcoming matches against Germany and Switzerland. ^{[17] [18]} He went on to make his U19 debut during a 1–0 defeat to Germany in Oliva on 6 September 2023. ^[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 3 April 2024 ^[20]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Aston Villa U21	2022–23	—			—		—		—		1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	1	0
	2023–24	—			—		—		—		1 [lower-alpha 1]	1	1	1
	Total		—		—		—		—		2	1	2	1
Aston Villa	2023–24	Premier League	1	0	0	0	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	—		4	0
Career total			1	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	2	1	6	1

1. Appearance in EFL Trophy
2. Appearance in UEFA Europa Conference League

References

1. "2022/23 Premier League squad lists". premierleague.com. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
2. "Omari Kellyman". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
3. "Jamaican teen Kellyman Omari signs first professional contract with Aston Villa - Ghana Latest Football News, Live Scores, Results - GHANAsoccernet".
4. Beacom, Steven (19 March 2023). "Northern Ireland lose another top teenager as Omari Kellyman opts for England". Belfast Telegraph . Retrieved 24 July 2023.
5. "Congratulations Omari!". landau-forte.org.uk. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
6. Nicholson, Steve (7 March 2022). "Youngster's heartfelt message on leaving Derby County for Aston Villa". derbytelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
7. "Kellyman signs pro contract". avfc.co.uk. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
8. Townley, John (24 March 2023). "Who is Omari Kellyman? Aston Villa youngster scores 'superb' goal in front of Unai Emery". birminghammail.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
9. "Kellyman up for PL2 Player of the Month award". avfc.co.uk. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
10. "Villa host Bristol Rovers in friendly". avfc.co.uk. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
11. Dicken, Alex (28 May 2023). "Omari Kellyman shines as Aston Villa youngsters reign supreme in Hong Kong". birminghammail.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
12. "Buendia stars as goals keep raining in Philadelphia". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
13. UEFA.com. "Aston Villa-Hibernian | UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
14. Maher, Matt (2023-10-25). "Teenage star Omari Kellyman earns long Aston Villa deal". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
15. Tanswell, Jacob (2023-11-13). "Kellyman out until next year with hamstring injury". The Athletic. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
16. "Man City 4-1 Aston Villa: Phil Foden's hat-trick takes Pep Guardiola's side to within one point of top spot". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
17. Beacon, Steven (3 September 2023). "Northern Ireland lose another promising teenager as Premier League talent declares for England". Belfast Telegraph . ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 4 September 2023.
18. "England MU19s squad named to play Germany and Switzerland". The Football Association. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
19. "Report: England MU19s 0-1 Germany". England Football. 6 September 2023.
20. Omari Kellyman at Soccerway

External links

• Omari Kellyman at WorldFootball.net