Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Chloe Kelly, with the England forward making a loan move from Manchester City on deadline day until the end of the 2024/25 season.
Kelly, who scored the winning goal at Wembley as England defeated Germany in the Euro 2022 final, has spent four-and-a-half years with the Cityzens after signing from Everton in the summer of 2020.
But things have turned sour this season, with the 27-year-old taking to social media last night to confirm that “with [her] contract expiring in June, [she has] accepted [her] future is not beyond then.”
She alleges that the club have “dictated whom I can and can’t join with only 4 months left of the football season” and says that the situation is “having a huge impact on not only my career but my mental wellbeing.”
As news of her transfer broke, another post on social media read: “So disappointed to find out tonight that people at the club are briefing journalists against me if I am to sign at a club before the window shuts. They’ve called reporters to assassinate my character and tried to plant negative stories about me in the football media, of which is fake accusations.”
The forward, who has been the subject of interest from both Brighton and Manchester United in recent weeks, turned down an approach from the Seagulls early on Thursday as she looks to avoid relocating away from her family before Arsenal swooped in.
An Arsenal Academy graduate, Kelly made 19 appearances for the first team during her previous stint with the club and scored nine goals during that time – and she’ll be looking to bolster that tally to prove she belongs in Sarina Wiegman’s England squad ahead of the summer.
Renée Slegers told Arsenal.com: “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.”