The Addicks eighth summer signing will probably already be familiar to many fans.
The 23 year old striker was the top scorer in League One during the 2024/25 season netting 23 times in the league while on loan at Leyton Orient.
Born in Basildon, Kelman’s footballing career started in the US at FC Dallas before he moved closer to home in 2017 to sign for Southend as a sixteen year old. 31 League appearances followed over the next three years during which he scored six times including an audacious goal from inside his own half against Plymouth Argyle on debut.
West London called and he joined QPR in October 2020 and made 11 appearances in The Championship during the 2020/21 season. He failed to find the net and was loaned out to Gillingham the following season. His time in Kent was unhappy - only 2 goals coming in 23 League One appearances. Further loans to League Two Leyton Orient and League One Wigan Athletic followed and were an improvement, albeit without setting the world alight.
The 2024/25 season was a break out one for the 23 year old. Reuniting with Leyton Orient and manager Richie Wellens, something seemed to click and he won the League One golden boot with 23 goals and 5 assists in 49 appearances. Following a brace in the Play Off Semi Final First Leg against Stockport County Kelman cited Matty Godden as an influence and a player he speaks to about the art of goal scoring. Those conversations will be much easier now.
Comparisons between the two forwards are only natural but Kelman is not a younger version of Godden. The latter is a great focal point striker, deceptively good in the air and very capable of holding the ball up to allow teammates to travel up the pitch. Kelman is more nippy and likes to play on the shoulder to run in behind the defence so he should be a good target for Godden’s flick-ons. Kelman’s pressing talents should also be noted. According to FotMob data he won possession in the final third 34 times - ten more than Godden and only three times less than Tyreece Campbell. Any strikers brought in by Nathan Jones also need to be able to press and defend from the front. Charlie Kelman can certainly do that but it will be his goalscoring that excites fans.
Nathan Jones is very pleased:
“I’m really delighted we’ve been able to sign Charlie. He’s a player we earmarked a long time ago as someone we really wanted to sign. With our promotion, it was something we went after really hard. I want to thank the Board and the owners for the support we’ve had in getting this over the line. He’s a goal scorer - which he proved last year. He’s scored 27 goals, played lots of games and he’s a great age. He’s everything we want at Charlton and adds to an already really strong strike force that we have.”
Kelman has made 23 Championship appearances (albeit mostly as a substitute) but has yet to score a Championship goal. We look forward to seeing him break his duck.
Welcome to SE7, Charlie.