Cardiff City have received a genuine boost in their pursuit of Omari Kellyman, as Chelsea are once again linked with letting the young attacker leave on loan this summer, according to the latest transfer news.
Chelsea give green light for Omari Kellyman’s loan return
The young midfielder went on tour with Chelsea’s first team in Australia and Asia. He did not play in the last two warm-up games of that trip. As reported by BBC, Xabi Alonso has told as many as sixteen players they can leave on loan this summer. That news has opened the door for Cardiff City to push hard for a deal. Kellyman spent last season on loan at Cardiff City. His form during the League One title push showed why Chelsea had put so much faith in him. He scored eleven goals and set up two more in thirty-six games for the club.
The Blues still rate him highly, but regular game time matters more right now. A loan gives him a clear run of first-team football, week in and week out. That kind of run is hard to guarantee at a club competing in the Premier League. For Cardiff, it means landing a player who settled fast last time around.
Omari Kellyman’s stats in the 2025-26 season at Cardiff City, as per FOTMOB:
Competition Matches Goals Assists
League One 36 11 2
FA Cup 1 0 0
EFL Trophy 3 0 0
EFL Cup 2 0 0
Cardiff speed up their squad rebuild
Cardiff City start their new season on 14 August, so time is short to get deals done. As reported by Wales Online, Boss Brian Barry-Murphy said on Saturday that Cardiff “need new players” before that kick-off. That push for new faces fits with a squad rebuild that is already picking up speed.
New signing Jack Moylan has already made a mark, scoring the winner against Swindon Town. His arrival, though, has not ended Cardiff’s interest in Omari Kellyman. The two players offer different qualities, and both can fit into the same squad.
Barry-Murphy has talked about building a side that can push back toward the Premier League in time. Kellyman fits the plan well, since he is young, hungry, and still getting better fast. A deal for him would mark another step toward that bigger goal. It would also hand Barry-Murphy a player who already knows the dressing room.
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What Omari Kellyman brings to Barry-Murphy’s team
Omari Kellyman offers real range, and that kind of flexibility matters in modern football. He can play as a number ten, drift out wide, or drop into a false nine role. That mix lets a manager change shape without making a new signing. Barry-Murphy could use him to switch between a 4-3-3 and a tighter 4-2-3-1 in the same game. His close touch and sharp mind let him link midfield with attack under pressure. He reads space well and often finds the pass that breaks a defensive line.
Chelsea want him playing regular first-team football, not stuck on the bench in west London. A loan to the Championship would give him exactly that, real minutes every weekend. The transfer window stays open until 1 September, so neither club needs to rush the final call. Cardiff want a proven player who already fits Barry-Murphy’s plans in south Wales. Expect the next week to decide whether Omari Kellyman makes that return.
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