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Lasse Kelp
Personal information
Full name Lasse Jonathan Kelp
Date of birth (2003-02-11) 11 February 2003 (age 23)
Place of birth Bonn, Germany
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Number 4
Youth career
–2019 1. FC Köln
2019–2020 Hennef 05
2020–2022 Fortuna Köln
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2024 UMBC Retrievers 51 (4)
2024–2025 Maryland Terrapins 19 (1)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Fortuna Köln 0 (0)
2024–2025 Utah United 6 (1)
2026– Pittsburgh Riverhounds 15 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13:56, 27 August 2026 (UTC)

Lasse Kelp (born 11 February 2003) is a German professional footballer who plays as a defender for USL Championship club Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Career

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Youth

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As a youth, Kelp played for the academy of Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln. In 2019, he moved to FC Hennef 05.[1] The following year, he joined the academy of SC Fortuna Köln. He would go on to compete in the Under 19 Bundesliga with the club.[2][3]

College

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Beginning in 2022, Kelp moved to the United States to play NCAA college soccer for the Retrievers of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Over the next three seasons, he appeared in fifty-one matches, tallying four goals and two assists. During his time with the Retrievers, Kelp won numerous individual honors including being named team captain in 2024. For his senior season, he transferred to the University of Maryland, College Park to play for the Maryland Terrapins.[4] Following his one season with the team, Kelp was named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a Hermann Trophy finalist as one of the top fifteen college players in the country.[5]

Professional

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Kelp joined Utah United of the USL League Two for the 2024 season, the club's inaugural campaign. He scored the game-winner in a league match again Salt City SC on 31 May.[6] In total, he made six appearances for the club that season, scoring one goal en route to being named to the USL League Two Best XI among individuals playing in the NCAA soccer tournament.[7][8] Following graduation from the University of Maryland, Kelp was selected by D.C. United with the 85th overall pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft in December 2025.[9][10] However, he was ultimately not signed by the club.[11]

In February 2026, Kelp signed a one-year contract with the reigning USL Championship title holders, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, with a club option for an additional year.[12] He made his professional debut for the club as a starter on 25 March 2026 in a 2026 U.S. Open Cup Second Round win over Virginia Dream FC. Kelp's debut was delayed to that point as he waited for approval of his P-1 Visa.[13][14]

References

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  1. ↑ "Weitere Zugaenge" (in German). FC Hennef 05. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  2. ↑ "FCH-Talentschmiede arbeitet auf Hochtouren !!!" (in German). FC Hennef 05. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  3. ↑ Kleefisch, Stefan. "Zwei Nackenschläge auf einmal nach der Pause verkraftete die U19 nicht" (in German). FC Fortuna Koln. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  4. ↑ "University of Maryland men's soccer team signs 9 new Terps for 2025 season". Soccer Wire. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  5. ↑ Dilisio, Rock. "Riverhounds set to open season but USL players strike looms". The West Hills Gazette. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  6. ↑ Walker, Sean; Staten, Tyler. "SupportLocalSoccer ... and local soccer creators: Tyler Staten, photographer". Salt City Soccer. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "2024 STATS". USL League Two. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "USL League Two Best XI of 2025 NCAA DI Tournament". USL League Two. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "D.C. United Selects Lasse Kelp with the 85th Selection in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft". DC United. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  10. ↑ Wine, Donald II. "#1 overall pick Nikola Markovic leads DC United MLS Superdraft acquisitions". The District Press. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  11. ↑ Rogalski, Nolan. "Former Maryland men's soccer defender Lasse Kelp signs with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC". The Testudo Times. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "Top College Defender Kelp Signs with Hounds". Our Sports Central. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  13. ↑ Goodman, Mark Asher. "Riverhounds defeat Virginia Dream FC 2-0 to advance in US Open Cup". Pittsburgh Soccer Now. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  14. ↑ Grubba, Matt. "Riverhounds SC Communications" (PDF). Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
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