Manchester City winger Chloe Kelly has joined Arsenal on loan for the remainder of the season. The 27-year-old came through the Gunners academy before leaving for Everton in 2018.
Kelly has been frozen out at City this season with only one WSL start to her name all campaign. On Wednesday evening, she released a statement on her social media channels expressing her frustration at having been blocked from making a move in January ahead of this summer’s Euros. Kelly scored the winning goal in the Euro 2022 Final for England.
Head Coach Renée 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.”
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 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.”
Manchester United were heavily in for the player but City were reluctant to do business with their city rivals and the Gunners stole in with a deadline day move. The deal was completed this evening not long before the 11pm deadline. Austrian right-back Laura Wienroither joined City on loan tonight too in a separate deal.
Who saw this coming?
With her limited minutes this season, is she cup-tied in all comps this season? It would be nice to have her for the Champions League.
I remember watching her first professional game at Meadow Park. Chloe is a brilliant player and it’s great to have her back. Sunderland had this player called Beth Mead…
A strange one with all the drama about her social media post and the reports that she really wanted to keep living in Manchester. Hope it all works out in the end.
Did this deal beat the record of three minutes to spare?
Great news. Thanks.
I think we lost many young players who kinda turned their backs on us. Kelly also being one of them. Not sure what exactly happened, but certainly hope we reverse this trend.
Welcome Chloe! It’s a move that makes sense both for her and for us. With Jenna Nighswonger’s arrival, I think we can now field a team with eight blonde ponytails! (Katie Reid must never dye her hair).
Exactly, Arsenal looks like the least diverse team in the WSL.
Some years ago, in a report of a Women’s game that Arsenal won easily, I remember that someone commented: “Hardly surprising, we had Emmanuel Petit all over the pitch.”.
What was this mess that happened? Did the city club want to defame her? She posted something on her story, my God! Things are more serious than I imagined, welcome Chloé Kelly, may you find true happiness in playing your football again.
Kelly has been a very talented winger who always impressed me. I’m curious why she fell out of favor at City. Fowler has taken her spot, and she’s a good player, but I don’t think she’s better than Kelly. Hard to know, but she should help the Gunners.
Their manager has form, look at the mass exodus a couple of years ago, with Stanway, Walsh etc.
With all the drama around Kelly recently I have pondered what the difference is between out of favour with the coach and good old fashion exclusion. Kelly remained quiet and professional about it to this week with her social media post which indicated a level of desperation and is not in my opinion to be condemed, She is a player i enjoy watching and she has done what an academy graduate is supposed to do by moving into the WSL & International Spheres gaining professional contracts. Yes it would be nice if Arsenal Academy graduates were able to stay with… Read more »