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Khiry Shelton is coming to The Five Boroughs.
With the second overall pick, New York City drafted the Oregon State forward, who's a Generation adidas signing. Going into the draft, Shelton was considered by many observers to be the top senior available. At 6-3 and 180 pounds, Shelton brings strength, physicality, and speed to a club front line that needs it.
In his final season with the Beavers, Shelton scored 10 goals and had 12 assists in 20 games. His senior season wasn’t a fluke, either; last year, Shelton scored nine goals with 12 assists over the course of 18 games. If Cyle Larin was the runaway best forward in the draft, Shelton was number two. With his speed, Shelton can also play wide on either side in a 4-3-3. Moreover, he is an intelligent passer who adds penetration off the ball. Giving him the chance to play not just with David Villa, but with Frank Lampard once he arrives in July, will be a massive boost in his development.
Going into the draft, New York City were widely expected to draft midfielder Cristian Roldan of the University of Washington. However, despite his skills, Roldan was generally considered to be more of a long-term project, thanks to his size and youth. In contrast, Shelton can make an immediate impact. Given that New York City needs forwards that can contribute right away, drafting Shelton over Roldan makes sense.