Dane Kelly


Dane Kelly is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a striker for USL Championship club Charlotte Independence. With 77 regular season goals, Kelly is the all-time leading scorer in the USL Championship.

Professional career

Tivoli Gardens

Kelly began his career in his native Jamaica with Jamaican National Premier League side Tivoli Gardens. He led the U21 JPL league in scoring in 2010–2011 with 15 goals.

Charleston Battery

Kelly moved to the United States in 2011 after to attend open tryouts with the Charleston Battery after being spotted by the club during a scouting trip to Jamaica. After impressing coach Mike Anhaeuser during a 2011 Carolina Challenge Cup game against Toronto FC, Kelly signed with the Battery on 16 March and made his debut with the team on 9 April 2011 in a game against the Charlotte Eagles.
In 2014, Kelly was named the club's player of the year and earned first team all-USL honors. In 2015, he scored 11 goals in 26 league appearances and had a man of the match performance with a goal and an assist in a 3–2 victory over NASL side Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. With his final goal of the season, the 42nd of his Charleston career, Kelly became the all-time leading scorer in the current United Soccer League, passing Matthew Delicate.

Swope Park Rangers

Kelly signed with Sporting Kansas City's USL affiliate side Swope Park Rangers on 16 December 2015. He scored his first goal for the club on 2 April against Tulsa Roughnecks FC. Kelly suffered a hamstring injury that ruled him out for nine games before returning against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on 12 June.

Reno 1868

Kelly signed with Reno 1868 of the USL in 2017. He earned the 2017 USL Golden Boot, leading the league with 18 goals scored.

D.C. United

On 9 March 2018, Kelly signed with MLS club D.C. United. He scored his first unofficial goal for D.C. on September 19, 2018, in a friendly against C.D. Olimpia.

Indy Eleven

On 16 January 2019, Kelly signed with USL Championship side Indy Eleven.

Charlotte Independence

On 27 January 2020, Kelly moved again, joining USL Championship side Charlotte Independence.

International career

In 2017, Kelly was called up to the Jamaica senior national team. He scored his first goal against South Korea an exhibition match that ended 2-2

Career statistics

Club

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.30 January 2018Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya, Turkey1–02–2Friendly
2.14 October 2018Ergilio Hato Stadium, Willemstad, Curaçao6–06–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification

Honors