New Omari Kellyman, Cardiff City transfer update emerges | OneFootball

Brian Barry-Murphy is keen to bring Chelsea starlet Omari Kellyman back to Cardiff City, according to reports.

Cardiff City remain keen to bring Chelsea forward Omari Kellyman back to the club after a successful loan stint during the 2025-26 season.

The Bluebirds have been very quiet when it comes to incomings this summer, with a need to strengthen Brian Barry-Murphy's squad following a second-place finish in League One last season.

There was a very public pursuit of Tromso midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl in recent weeks, with Cardiff willing to spend multiple millions on the youngster's services, but the South Wales outfit have had to pivot as Hull City have swooped in to secure his services.

Cardiff however have made a breakthrough this week, with Lincoln City attacking midfielder Jack Moylan joining the club for an undisclosed fee - one which is the Imps' record when it comes to a sale, with some reports suggesting it was around £2 million.

Moylan adds to the loan signing of Nathan Trott last year being made permanent, but will another player from their League One campaign in the form of Kellyman be returning to the Cardiff City Stadium in the near future?

According to a report from WalesOnline, versatile 20-year-old forward Kellyman remains on the transfer radar of Cardiff this summer, and there is a 'live possibility' that there is a deal there to be done.

It is claimed that Chelsea themselves want to see Kellyman develop further with second-tier football, which is something that City can now provide, but there is significant interest in the ex-Aston Villa youngster's services.

Kellyman has travelled on Chelsea's pre-season tour overseas to Asia and Australia, which comes to an end this weekend in Indonesia, and he could then be available for a temporary departure again when the squad returns to British shores.

Omari Kellyman starred in Cardiff City's promotion in 2025-26

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Having joined Chelsea in a £19 million deal from Aston Villa in 2024, Kellyman suffered from hamstring troubles in his first year at Stamford Bridge, and underwent surgery in March 2025 to try and fix the issue.

It looks to have worked, as Kellyman featured 36 times in League One for Cardiff last season, scoring 11 times under Barry-Murphy from a variety of attacking positions, and there is now hope that he'll return for a second stint - this time at a higher level.

And given the experience they gave Kellyman in the Welsh capital last season, Cardiff could potentially be in pole position to land the Derby-born maestro once more if there's several clubs in for him.

Omari Kellyman could really flourish in a second Cardiff City stint

Chelsea clearly thought a lot of Kellyman at youth level for Aston Villa to splash the large sum of £19 million quid on his services, but he's not been given the chance to break through into the first-team just yet in west London.

He hasn't even come off the bench yet in their pre-season friendlies, although it's not exactly a surprise given the size of Xabi Alonso's squad that he's got to work with as it currently stands.

The best and most obvious course of action for Kellyman before the transfer window slams shut on September 1 is to go out on loan again, and there's likely going to be clubs from the Championship and perhaps overseas interested in taking him on loan for the season, such is his potential.

But there's only one club he should be looking to head to, and that's Cardiff - even after the signing of Moylan, who adds to the likes of Rubin Colwill, Ollie Tanner, Chris Willock, Isaak Davies and Cian Ashford who can all play in the number 10 or wide roles, which means Barry-Murphy certainly would have a lot of depth to choose from.