Khiry Shelton is in the midst of his second stint with Sporting Kansas City, having initially helped the club to a first place in the Western Conference and a record-breaking scoring season in 2018, before departing to play in Germany with SC Paderborn 07 for one season in 2019. He returned to the club ahead of the 2020 season and played primarily along the frontline from 2020 through 2023, before shifting to right back midway through the 2024 campaign.
Shelton was selected second overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by expansion side New York City FC and spent three seasons with the club before initially arriving in KC via trade ahead of the 2018 season. He was NYCFC’s first-ever SuperDraft pick and played a total of 54 regular-season games for the club, notching six goals and 10 assists across just 23 starts.
In college, Shelton attended Oregon State University where he was an NSCAA All-America Second Team selection; Pac-12 Player of the Year; All-Far West Region First Team as he helped lead the Beavers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003 during his senior year. Shelton was a member of the U.S. U-18 National Team as a youth player.
PROFESSIONAL
2024: Made 26 appearances across all competitions, tallying two assists as he shifted to right back midway through the campaign. Suffered an ankle injury in preseason that required surgery, keeping him out until his season debut on April 27. MLS Regular Season: Started nine of 19 appearances, tallying both of his assists on the season. Recorded his first assist of the season in the 2-1 home loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps on May 29 before providing the game-winning assist on Alenis Vargas' goal in the 2-1 home victory over the Seattle Sounders on June 8. Open Cup: Started four matches in the club's run to the Open Cup Final, including the full 120 minutes in the Final as he shackled LAFC star attacker Denis Bouanga during the club's 3-1 defeat on Sept. 25. Leagues Cup: Appeared in all three matches, starting twice and logging 190 minutes.
2023: Made 30 appearances across all competitions, tallying one goal and one assist. MLS Regular Season: Started seven of 24 appearances, scoring once in a 4-1 victory over Austin FC at Children's Mercy Park on June 10. MLS Cup Playoffs: Started one of two appearances, going 90 minutes in the 4-1 victory at St. Louis in Game 1 of Round One and tallied an assist on Gadi Kinda's goal. Open Cup: Started and played 60 minutes in the 1-0 loss at Houston in the Round of 32. Leagues Cup: Started all three matches for Sporting in the Leagues Cup, forcing an own goal out of Nick Hagglund in the 3-3 draw with FC Cincinnati in the Group Stage on July 23.
2022: Named Co-Neal and Jeanne Patterson Humanitarian of the Year alongside Johnny Russell. MLS Regular Season: Started 15 of 24 appearances, scored one goal and added one assist (1407 minutes played). Assisted the match winner against CF Montreal, teeing up Remi Walter in the 63rd minute on July 9. Scored the match-winner in a 3-0 demolition of D.C. United on Aug. 13. Open Cup: Started two of four appearances, scored twice and assisted on two goals (187 minutes played). Came on as a substitute against FC Dallas on May 10 in the Round of 32 and forced an own goal in extra time before icing the match with a score of his own. Started against Union Omaha, assisted on the first and third score, both by Daniel Salloi and netted the fourth goal of a 6-0 win on June 22.
2021: MLS Regular Season: Started 25 of 31 appearances, scored three goals and tallied six assists (2229 minutes played). Assisted on Alan Pulido's score against Real Salt Lake on May 1 and assisted Gadi Kinda's match-winning score on May 9 against Austin FC. Found Gadi Kinda again in a 3-2 win over the Houston Dynamo on May 29. Scored his first goal of the season in second half stoppage time on July 4 in a 2-0 victory over the LA Galaxy. Assisted the second score of a 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders which Daniel Salloi's scored on July 25. Assisted Salloi again on Aug. 4 in a 4-1 thrashing of LAFC on the road. Scored the first goal and picked up an assist on the fourth goal in a 4-0 lashing of Minnesota United on Sept. 15. Scored again against Minnesota United on Oct. 31. MLS Cup Playoffs: Started one of two appearances, scoring one goal (107 minutes played). Started and scored against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, finding the back of the net in the 17th minute with a highly athletic finish to give Sporting the lead in the Western Conference First Round. Came on as a substitute against Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference Semifinals.
2020: Earned Neal and Jeanne Patterson Humanitarian of the Year honors. ​MLS regular season: Started 17 of 20 appearances, scored five goals and recorded one assist (1,447 minutes played). Assisted Alan Pulido's opener and scored the late fourth goal in a 4-0 win over the Houston Dynamo on March 7. Scored a goal in a 2-1 loss to Minnesota United FC on July 12. Scored a goal in a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rapids on July 17, marking his third straight game with a goal. Scored a first-half equalizer in a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas on Sept. 2. Scored a goal in a 2-0 win at Real Salt Lake on Nov. 8 at Sporting finished in first place in the Western Conference. MLS is Back Tournament: Started four matches and scored two goals (343 minutes played). Scored a goal in a 2-1 group stage loss to Minnesota United FC on July 12. Scored a goal in a 3-2 group stage win over the Colorado Rapids on July 17, marking his third straight game with a goal. MLS Cup Playoffs: Started two matches and recorded one assist (210 minutes played). Played 120 minutes in the Western Conference Quarterfinals on Nov. 22, assisting Gianluca Busio's late goal and converting his penalty kick in the shootout as Sporting defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 3-0 in a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw. Played 90 minutes in a 3-0 loss to Minnesota United in the Western Conference Semifinals on Dec. 3.
SC Paderborn 07 (2019):
Shelton moved from Sporting to Paderborn in January 2019, joining midway through the 2018-19 German 2. Bundesliga season. He debuted the following month and helped the team finish as second-division runners-up, clinching promotion to the top-flight Bundesliga for the 2019-20 campaign. Shelton logged four appearances for Paderborn in the 2019-20 season, notably making his Bundesliga debut in a 3-2 loss to European powerhouse FC Bayern Munich on Sept. 28.
2018: Made 24 appearances across all competitions, tallying two goals and five assists in his first season with Sporting KC. MLS regular season: Started 15 of 20 appearances, scored two goals and recorded five assists (1,370 minutes played). Made his Sporting KC debut with a start in a thrilling 4-3 victory at the Chicago Fire on March 10. Assisted Diego Rubio's dramatic 91st-minute equalizer in a 2-2 draw at the Colorado Rapids on March 24. Assisted Felipe Gutierrez's decisive goal in a 1-0 win over D.C. United on March 31. Headed home his first goal in a Sporting KC uniform in a 1-1 draw at Minnesota United FC on May 20. Came off the bench to score the game-winner in the 88th minute of a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory over the Houston Dynamo on June 23. Came off the bench in the second half to assist both of Daniel Salloi's goals in a 4-1 victory at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Oct. 17. Assisted Daniel Salloi's late goal in a 2-1 win over LAFC on Oct. 28 as Sporting KC clinched first place in the Western Conference. Open Cup: Played 15 minutes as a second-half substitute in a 3-2 victory over FC Dallas in the Round of 16 on June 16. MLS Cup Playoffs: Started two of three appearances (172 minutes played). Started and played 60 minutes in a 1-1 conference semifinal first leg draw at Real Salt Lake on Nov. 4. Played 22 minutes as a second-half substitute in a 4-2 conference semifinal second-leg win over Real Salt Lake on Nov. 11. Started and played 90 minutes in a 0-0 conference championship first-leg draw at Portland on Nov. 25.
New York City FC (2015-2017):
NYCFC’s first-ever SuperDraft pick, Shelton made his New York City FC debut on March 8, 2015 against Orlando City SC and went on to start seven of 17 appearances. He scored one goal and tallied one assist for the season. Khiry played 22 games for NYCFC in 2016, starting 13 (1159 minutes played). In all, he scored four goals and completed nine assists is an excellent campaign.​ He played a valuable super-sub role in 2017, appearing in 15 matches and notching a goal (502 minutes played).
COLLEGE
Tallied 10 goals and 12 assists at Oregon State University during his senior season. NSCAA All-America Second Team; Pac-12 Player of the Year; All-Far West Region First Team. Helped lead the Beavers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003. Was named an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention in 2012. Started the first six games of his sophomore season before a foot injury sidelined him for the rest of the year.
INTERNATIONAL
Member of the United States U18 men’s national team for the Lisbon International Tournament in 2011. Selected to the U18 squad for its trip to Israel in 2010.
YOUTH
A four-year letterman at Vista Ridge H.S. in Cedar Park, Texas, Shelton was selected Offensive Most Valuable Player and first team all-district in 2010. Played for the Lonestar Academy and the Lonestar U17/U18 team that won the 2010 Disney Showcase. Selected to Colorado Olympic Development Program in 2006.
