Kevin Kelsy
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 Kelsy playing for Shakhtar Donetsk | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kevin Jesús Kelsy Genez[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 27 July 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Valencia, Venezuela[1] | ||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position | 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 | 33 | (7) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022– | Venezuela U20 | 8 | (0) |
| 2024– | Venezuela U23 | 5 | (2) |
| 2025– | Venezuela | 4 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18 October 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 November 2025 | |||
Kevin Jesús Kelsy Genez (born 27 July 2004) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers and the Venezuela national team.
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 January 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]
