37 Omari Kellyman

Omari Jamian Kellyman was born on 15 September 2005 in Derby, England. He comes from a diverse background, with a Northern Irish mother and a Ghanaian father. As a child, he attended Landau Forte College, where he balanced academics with his football development.

Club Career

Derby County

Kellyman began his football journey at Derby County’s academy in 2012. After progressing through the youth ranks, he was named on the bench for an EFL Championship match against AFC Bournemouth on 21 November 2021, though he did not feature in the game.

Aston Villa

In March 2022, after a decade with Derby County, Kellyman transferred to Premier League side Aston Villa for a reported compensation fee of £600,000. He signed his first professional contract in September 2022 and became a key player for Villa’s under-21 squad.

Kellyman made headlines in February 2023 after being nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award. He showcased his talent in a friendly match against Bristol Rovers on 24 March 2023, scoring Villa’s only goal in a 3–1 defeat. Later, he played a crucial role in Aston Villa’s triumph at the 2023 HKFC International Soccer Sevens, scoring twice in the final against Tai Po and earning the Player of the Tournament award.

In July 2023, Kellyman was included in Aston Villa’s pre-season squad for a USA tour and impressed during the Premier League Summer Series match against Newcastle United, contributing to a goal by Emi Buendía.

On 31 August 2023, Kellyman made his professional debut in a UEFA Europa Conference League fixture against Hibernian, providing an assist in a 3–0 victory. He signed a long-term contract extension with Aston Villa on 25 October 2023. However, his progress was hampered by a hamstring injury sustained in an EFL Trophy match against Crawley Town on 7 November 2023, sidelining him until the new year. He made his Premier League debut on 3 April 2024 in a 4–1 defeat to Manchester City.

Chelsea

On 29 June 2024, Chelsea secured Kellyman’s services on a six-year contract with an option for an additional year. The transfer fee was reported to be £19 million.

International Career

Kellyman initially represented Northern Ireland at the under-17 and under-18 levels. However, in September 2023, he switched his international allegiance to England. On 1 September 2023, he received a call-up to England’s under-19 squad for matches against Germany and Switzerland, making his debut on 6 September 2023 in a 1–0 loss to Germany.

In May 2024, he was selected for England’s under-20 team for the first time but was later replaced by Romain Esse in the squad.