Comets sign 10-year MLS veteran Khiry Shelton

The Kansas City Comets have signed MLS and Bundesliga veteran forward Khiry Shelton to a three-year contract. Per team and league policies, the terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Shelton brings an extensive professional soccer background to the Comets, having competed in Major League Soccer with New York City FC and Sporting Kansas City, as well as in Germany with SC Paderborn 07.

“We’re happy to have Khiry joining the KC Comets,” head coach Stefan Stokic said. “He’s a talented player who has played at a high level, and I believe he can bring a lot to our team.”

Shelton’s professional career began in 2015, when New York City FC selected him with the second overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft. After six goals and seven assists in 57 appearances across three seasons with NYCFC, Shelton joined Sporting Kansas City via trade following 2017.

Shelton guided Sporting to a first-place finish in the Western Conference in 2018 before moving to Germany with SC Paderborn 07 in 2019. He helped Paderborn earn promotion from the second division to the Bundesliga in 2018-19, featuring against FC St. Pauli and Union Berlin.

After the club’s promotion, Shelton appeared in two Bundesliga matches, making his Bundesliga debut against Bayern Munich and later featuring against Mainz. He also spent time on Paderborn’s second team, scoring seven goals in 12 matches in the Oberliga Westfalen.

Shelton returned to Sporting KC ahead of the 2020 season, where he would play the final six years of his MLS career. In 191 matches, Shelton amassed 15 goals and 18 assists for Sporting, and has 28 goals and 26 assists in 268 professional appearances.

“It’s an honor and I’m extremely blessed and thrilled for the opportunity to be joining the club,” Shelton said. “The club has great history and I look forward to contributing to that.”

Born in Fort Carson, Colorado, and later raised in Leander, Texas, Shelton was a four-year letterman at Vista Ridge High School. He also spent time in 2010 and 2011 as a member of the United States U-18 Men’s National Team and was selected to the Colorado Olympic Development Program in 2006.

Prior to his selection in the MLS SuperDraft, Shelton played four years of collegiate soccer at Oregon State University. After earning All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention his

sophomore year, he was named Pac-12 Player of the Year as a senior and was selected as a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, awarded to college soccer’s best player.

Now, Shelton is the latest outdoor veteran to bring his skills to the indoor game. Notable players who have followed that path include Comets goalkeeper coach Alan Mayer, Landon Donovan, Dwayne De Rosario, Jermaine Jones, Blas Perez and, most recently, Empire Strykers midfielder Marco Fabian.

“Indoor soccer is a different game, and it will take some time to adjust, but I believe in his ability and what he can become in this league,” Stokic said. “I’m looking forward to working with him, helping him grow, and seeing the impact he can make for us. I believe he can be an important part of what we’re building here in Kansas City.”

Shelton could make his MASL debut next month, when the Comets open the season with a road match against St. Louis on Black Friday before the home opener on Nov. 28 against Milwaukee at Cable Dahmer Arena. Season tickets are still available at kccomets.com/seasontickets2627.