Chloe Kelly has joined Arsenal on loan until the end of the season from Manchester City after completing a dramatic move on WSL Deadline Day.
Manchester United had also been in the running to sign the 27-year-old before Thursday’s 11pm deadline but Kelly has moved to the Gunners, where she started her senior career.
Kelly’s preference was to stay in Manchester, which is why she turned down the chance to sign for Brighton earlier in this window, but an agreement between City and United never materialised.
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Take a look at some of the best goals and assists from Kelly in the Women’s Super League!
The Lionesses star is free to join United at the end of the season, with her contract expiring this summer.
But Kelly will spend the remainder of the season in north London as she hopes to play more first-team football amid concerns about her place in the England squad for this summer’s 2025 Euros.
Kelly was England’s hero at Euro 2022 as she scored the winning goal against Germany in the final at Wembley to fire the Lionesses to their first major honour.
Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers said: “Chloe is an exciting attacking player and will be a great addition to our squad as we approach the second half of the season. She’s direct and explosive, with huge natural talent and ability.
“We’re all looking forward to working with Chloe as an Arsenal player in the coming months.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s director of women’s football Clare Wheatley said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Chloe back to Arsenal.
“As an academy graduate, we’ve been proud to see the career she’s gone on to enjoy, both at club and international level.
“We’re delighted she’ll be representing Arsenal again as we aim to compete for honours this season.”
Sunday 2nd February 11:30am
Kick off 12:00pm
Kelly will wear the No 18 jersey at Arsenal, who face her parent club City at home on Sunday at midday, live on Sky Sports.
Kelly’s move comes after strongly-worded statement
Kelly had been disappointed she had not been able to leave City earlier this month – and released a strongly-worded post on social media on Wednesday about her future.
Sky Sports News understands City had only received one suitable bid for Kelly before the statement and that it had been with her to consider ahead of the window closing.
Sky Sports News reached out to Kelly on Wednesday after she said on Instagram she was “disappointed” that “who she can and cannot join” was “being dictated” to her. That followed a breakdown in relations between the club and her management after meetings.
It is understood the club told her she could not be replaced this month but then signed Brazil international Kerolin Nicoli from North Carolina Courage. Kelly felt the club were holding onto her as a matter of pride.
Kelly had been at City since the summer of 2020
Kelly’s contract with City ends in four months and England manager Sarina Wiegman is believed to be keen for her to get regular game time ahead of the Euros this summer. Kelly still considers herself a “top-three” player.
Kelly said in her statement on Wednesday: “For a long time, I’ve tried to work through professional challenges privately, not commenting publicly, but with my situation increasingly being debated in the public domain, I feel it’s time to be open and transparent and you heard it from my perspective.
“A key lesson I have learned in my life is that, while I can’t control someone’s negative behaviour towards me, I can control how long I am prepared to tolerate it. From day one, I’ve felt so much love from my team-mates and the fans.
“With my contract expiring in June, I’ve accepted my future is not at this club beyond then. With the Euros fast approaching, this summer is a huge one and I want to be in a position to give it my best shot to represent my country.”
Analysis: Kelly too talented to be a squad player
Kelly is keen to ensure she catches Sarina Wiegman’s eye before this summer’s Euros
Sky Sports’ Laura Hunter:
The curious case of Chloe Kelly. England’s Euro 2022 final saviour and so often in recent years a match-winner for Manchester City too. But something has gone awry this season and the writing had been on the wall for some time.
Gareth Taylor had been questioned about Kelly’s lack of minutes – only 165 in the WSL – on numerous occasions and remained coy, while choosing not to add any fuel to the transfer speculation fire. The latter was fair enough but the manager never really addressed why Kelly wasn’t playing.
This is a winger that formed one third of the most fearsome attacking trio in the WSL last term – alongside Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp – scoring and assisting for fun as City mounted a serious title challenge. Kelly registered 10 goal contributions and generated 51 chances, the second-best creative threat behind Manchester United’s Katie Zelem.
Clearly her relationship with Taylor has reached an impasse but Kelly has so much to offer and is desperate to prove her worth to Sarina Wiegman before the England boss makes her squad selection for this summer’s Euros.
At 27, she’s only just entering her peak years, not beyond them.
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