The Charleston Battery are pleased to confirm the signing of midfielder Jeremy Kelly to a multi-year contract on Wednesday, pending league and federation approval. Kelly returns Stateside after he and Crawley Town FC agreed to terms to enable his move to the Battery with immediate effect.
Kelly, 27, brings with him a wealth of playing experience at home and abroad.
The versatile midfielder played for Crawley Town FC for the past year and a half and was a key piece for the English club. Kelly initially joined Crawley Town during the 2023-24 season and helped the West Sussex side earn promotion to the EFL League One. In the 2024-25 campaign, Kelly was celebrated by the Crawley Observer as the club’s Player of the Year.
In total, Kelly made 65 appearances across all competitions in England, scoring five goals and adding five assists.
“The players and coaching staff have shown how talented and deep they are, so coming into a setup like this, where the standards are high, is exactly what you want,” said Kelly. “Reuniting with my old coaches and some teammates made Charleston even more attractive. That familiarity always makes the transition easier, plus I know what Coach Ben wants out of his team, which is especially helpful since I am coming in midseason.”
Kelly previously played for Head Coach Ben Pirmann in Memphis, alongside Aaron Molloy and Graham Smith.
Coach Pirmann is looking forward to working with Kelly again in the Lowcountry.
“Jeremy is an excellent player who has had great experiences in MLS, USL and in England,” said Coach Pirmann. “Jeremy is focused and has great ball control. He can play a variety of positions and we are excited to have him represent the Battery for years to come.
“There will be time for adjustment since he is coming off a long season of his own, but he understands the USL and its rigorous demands. Jeremy is aware of our club philosophy and expectations, and will fit in very well with a hungry group of players as we look to compete for trophies.”
Kelly’s breakout campaign was in 2022 with Memphis 901 FC under Coach Pirmann’s guidance, recording eight goals and 10 assists across 37 matches. He totaled 12 goals and 11 assists in 74 overall matches from 2022 to 2023.
Kelly was initially drafted ninth overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Montreal Impact, and was immediately traded to Colorado Rapids. He made his MLS debut on July 12 that year and competed for the Rapids through 2021, with a loan stint to Phoenix Rising FC.
For his collegiate career, Kelly had a decorated tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2016 to 2019. Kelly was an All-ACC selection his senior year and helped lead the Tar Heels to NCAA College Cup appearances in 2016 and 2017.
Kelly was born in the Czech Republic and lived in France when he was younger before growing up in North Carolina.
The versatile midfielder joins the Battery while the club has been among the top teams in the Players’ Shield race, and he is ready to help push for more success.
“Hopefully, I can bring something new to the team, but look, the squad has been one of the best teams in the USL in recent years, so I have to come in and earn my spot,” said Kelly.
Kelly will wear the number 29 and is available for Saturday’s game against South Georgia Tormenta FC in the USL Jägermeister Cup group stage.
