Kevin Kelsy, the Venezuelan forward at FC Cincinnati, isn’t having an ordinary season. This kid’s the kind of dynamo who can turn a middling attack into a goal machine. But now, the dream of keeping him on the squad is slipping through Cincinnati’s fingers. With time running out, a multimillion-dollar buyout clause, and four European clubs circling, FC Cincinnati faces a real market dilemma.
Here’s the deal: Kelsy’s got eyes on him, and that’s no accident. He’s the kind of player who combines speed, presence in the box, and that natural nose for goals that every coach dreams of in a striker. At 20, he’s already got an impressive level of maturity in his play, and that’s caught attention. And in Europe, interest can turn into offers in the blink of an eye, not that Shakhtar Donetsk is eager to offload him for a discount. They’ve set his price at over $5 million, a figure that might look modest in Europe but feels like a test of nerve for MLS budgets.
Follow MLS Multiplex on X (Twitter).
FC Cincinnati and Kelsy are on the same page: they both want him to stay. And with good reason. On the field, Kelsy’s proved his worth; off the field, he’s won over the fans, who are dreading the thought of him leaving. But wanting doesn’t always mean getting. Here, power lies with whoever’s willing to pay, and that leads us straight to Shakhtar and their steep $5 million clause.
Cincinnati’s got until November 30 to decide if they’ll pay up. There’s no wiggle room, no easy plan B. As the deadline inches closer, the odds of losing Kelsy to a European club grow. Four clubs have already reached out to Shakhtar, eager to get a sense of what it would take to bring Kelsy on board. And let’s be real, Europe isn’t short on clubs with the budget for this kind of acquisition.
Picture it: FC Cincinnati’s execs on one side of the table, glancing from the clock to the buyout clause; on the other side, Shakhtar Donetsk, fully aware their player has value and could fetch a sweet deal in Europe. Cincinnati’s got to make a move, and fast.
Kelsy’s made it clear, he wants to stay. He feels at home in the city, has the fans’ backing, and you can tell MLS suits him. There’s a feeling of unfinished business, that he’s got more to show here. But as he watches Cincinnati hesitate, European clubs are ready to lure him away with new opportunities and higher paychecks.
This indecision from Cincinnati could be seen two ways. For some, it’s caution; the club’s thinking long-term, steering clear of debt. After all, the MLS financial landscape is still miles away from European leagues, where big investments are par for the course. But others see it as a gamble: letting a young star slip away just as he’s starting to make an impact.
On paper, the solution seems simple: just pay up and lock him in. But in practice, it’s trickier. Cincinnati’s not a club that can throw millions around without blinking. An investment of this scale needs planning and confidence in a fast payoff. Betting on Kelsy is a risk, but losing him is one, too. If the Europeans swoop in and seal the deal, it’ll be yet another example of talent that MLS helped develop but ultimately saw blossom on foreign turf.