Shelton, who spent 2019 with German club SC Paderborn 07, returned to Kansas City in 2020 for his second stint at Sporting after helping the club to first place in the Western Conference and a record-breaking scoring season in 2018. Capable of playing multiple positions in attack, Shelton started 17 of 24 appearances for Sporting in all competitions during a 2018 campaign that saw the club set regular season club records in goals, assists and goal differential. He tallied two goals and five assists in MLS play as Sporting finished atop the West with 62 points and an 18-8-8 record. Sporting was 12-3-5 in regular season matches that Shelton played and advanced to the Western Conference Championship, falling one game short of an MLS Cup appearance.
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.
Sporting Kansas City (2018):
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.
NYCFC (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.
