Kevin Kelsy

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Kelsy and the second or maternal family name is Genez.

Kevin Kelsy
Kelsy playing for Shakhtar Donetsk
Personal information
Full name Kevin Jesús Kelsy Genez[1]
Date of birth (2004-07-27) 27 July 2004
Place of birth Valencia, Venezuela[1]
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Portland Timbers
Number 19
Youth career
Mineros de Guayana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Mineros de Guayana 33 (5)
2023 Boston River 0 (0)
2023–2025 Shakhtar Donetsk 27 (7)
2024 → FC Cincinnati (loan) 23 (6)
2025– Portland Timbers 19 (5)
International career‡
2022– Venezuela U20 8 (0)
2024– Venezuela U23 5 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 July 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 May 2024

Kevin Jesús Kelsy Genez (born 27 July 2004) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer. Kelsy also represents the Venezuela U23 national team.

Club career

Early career

Having broken into the first team at Mineros de Guayana in 2021, Kelsy went on to establish himself in the 2022 season, scoring his first goals for the club.[2] Kelsy transferred to Uruguayan Primera División club Boston River on 1 Jan 2023. He was subsequently transferred before making any appearances for the Montevideo-based side.[3]

Shakhtar Donetsk

On 31 January 2023, Shakhtar Donetsk announced the signing of Kelsy from Boston River on a contract until the end of December 2027.[4] He signed with the Ukrainian club during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[5]

On 23 February 2023, Kelsy was a substitute during the Europa League Playoff 2nd Leg against Rennes.[6] In the penalty shootout he scored the deciding goal that took Shakhtar Donetsk to the Round of 16.[6]

On 19 September 2023, Kelsy scored on his UEFA Champions League debut against FC Porto in a 3-1 loss, becoming the fourth-youngest South American to score in the competition behind Roque Santa Cruz, Lionel Messi and Rodrygo.[7][8]

FC Cincinnati

On 30 April 2024, MLS side FC Cincinnati announced Kelsy's acquisition via loan for the remainder of the 2024 season with an option to buy as part of the MLS U-22 initiative program.[9] On 11 May 2024 Kelsy scored his first goal for the club as part of a 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew in the Hell is Real Derby.[10]

Portland Timbers

On 25 January 2025, Kelsy completed a transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk to the Portland Timbers for a fee reported to be near $6 million. Kelsy signed a four-year contract with a club option for a fifth year.[11]

Additionally, Portland sent $75k in General Allocation Money with performance-related escalators to FC Cincinnati for Kelsy’s MLS rights.[11]

Kelsy made his Timbers debut in a 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps on 23 February. He tallied his first goal for Portland in his fifth league appearance for the club, a 3-0 home win against the Colorado Rapids on 22 March.[12]

Career statistics

Club

As of matches played through 28 April 2025[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other[c] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Mineros 2021 Venezuelan Primera División 9 0 – – – – 9 0
2022 24 5 – – – – 24 5
Total 33 5 – – – – 33 5
Shakhtar Donetsk 2022–23 Ukrainian Premier League 14 5 – – 3[d] 1 – 17 6
2023–24 13 2 2 0 – 5[e] 1 – 20 3
Total 27 7 2 0 – 8 2 – 37 9
FC Cincinnati (loan) 2024 Major League Soccer 23 6 – 4 0 – 2 0 29 6
Portland Timbers 2025 Major League Soccer 10 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 3
Career total 91 21 2 0 4 0 8 2 2 0 107 23
  1. ^ Includes Ukrainian Cup
  2. ^ Includes Leagues Cup
  3. ^ Includes MLS Cup playoffs
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

Honours

Shakhtar Donetsk

References

  1. ^ a b Kevin Kelsy at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ "Kevin Kelsy agarra un »avioncito» para mejorar como delantero" [Kevin Kelsy grabs a »little plane» to improve as a striker]. pasionxeldeporte.com (in Spanish). 27 July 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Kevin Kelsy joins Shakhtar". shakhtar.com. FC Shakhtar Donetsk. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Kevin Kelsy joins Shakhtar". shakhtar.com. FC Shakhtar Donetsk. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Ukraine war: UN condemns Russian invasion ahead of anniversary". BBC News. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Rennes 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk". UEFA. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Shakhtar 1-3 Porto". UEFA. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  8. ^ "IFFHS CONTINENTAL NEWS - UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE". The International Federation of Football History and Statistics. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  9. ^ FC Cincinnati acquire Kevin Kelsy on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk (https://www.fccincinnati.com/news/fc-cincinnati-acquire-kevin-kelsy-on-loan-from-shakhtar-donetsk) 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Columbus Crew 1-2 FC Cincinnati (May 11, 2024)". ESPN. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  11. ^ a b Timbers sign forward Kevin Kelsy (https://www.timbers.com/news/timbers-sign-forward-kevin-kelsy) 22 January 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  12. ^ Timbers down Colorado Rapids in 3-0 shutout win on the road (https://www.timbers.com/news/recap-timbers-rout-rapids-3-0-in-colorado) 22 March 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  13. ^ Kevin Kelsy at Soccerway
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