Chloe Kelly returned to Arsenal on loan from Manchester City on deadline day of the January transfer window, and on Friday, she opened up about her first weeks with the Gunners.
“It’s amazing to be back,” she told reporters. “I feel very settled in, it feels like yesterday I was here, so it’s easy to settle in. [I] definitely [feel happier], I’ve already got a smile on my face and enjoying training and playing under a top manager in Renée [Slegers] and a great bunch of girls.”
On the season so far, she says: “It’s been tough mentally, it’s been draining at times, but I know I’m a professional and I know I hold myself to a high level – but I think as a human, it was a tough time for me and I’m ready to move forward now.”
About 24 hours before the deadline, Chloe posted a statement to her Instagram berating the way she had been treated by Manchester City.
“I felt a sign of relief after I shared my statement, I think it had been a long time coming of course,” she revealed, adding: “I really felt good in that moment, I felt powerful, as women we should, but I think the support that I received from that was incredible. It was still a dark time for me because I didn’t know how my future looked, but for me it was a relief that I had spoken and how I needed to speak and whether my move got over the line or not, I was grateful to be able to share my words.”
“I think there’s always a time and a place but I think it’s important that we have a voice no matter the situation and there can be a lot of background noise sometimes but for me it was a statement where I felt like I expressed my emotions but doing it in the right way too, I think it’s really important to do that but I’m ready to move forward with it all now and I’m ready to learn here and to be happy again. I think it’s really important that we as human beings can be happy and I am definitely more happy now.”
Chloe has been left out of the upcoming England squad for the UEFA Women’s Nations League fixtures against Portugal and Spain, though Sarina Wiegman was keen to stress that the decision does not necessarily mean the Arsenal forward will miss out on a place in the Euro 2025 squad this summer.
“Sarina is an amazing manager who I respect so much [for] what she’s done for English football and an incredible manager I enjoy working with, and I understand, completely, her decision, and I’m ready to fight for my shirt back and I’m ready to get good training under my belt, good minutes under my belt and be at the best possible [level] come the summer, but to play in this Arsenal shirt as well, I have high hopes for this next six months and I’m really excited now.”
“For me, using the people around me is really important, but also never getting too low on the lows, never too high on the highs. In 2022, I was still not even training on the pitch with the team in this moment – for me the best is yet to come. I’m excited for the future and wearing this badge with pride is what I’ll do, and I’m excited to play in front of our amazing fans at the North London Derby now.”
Embed from Getty ImagesSince she joined, Arsenal have played two games against Manchester City, as well as an Adobe Women’s FA Cup clash against London City in the FA Cup against London City Lionesses. The North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur is their next challenge, and Kelly reflected: “It’s such a big game.”
“I think it allows a 7 day turnaround for us, there’s been a few midweek games but it allows us to get good training in our legs and I’m really enjoying every session, preparing well and enjoying learning. Coming to a new club is all about understanding the playing style and understanding how it works. I’m really wanting to learn, I have so much to learn so from a top manager in Renée and the girls, I’m excited.”
“I’m really looking forward to stepping out [on the pitch on Sunday] and hearing the noise from our fans, I’ve been involved in being around the squad for the last two games at home so it’s been amazing to hear the fans and they really get behind the girls.”
It’ll be the perfect first fixture back in the famous red of North London for Kelly, who progressed through the club’s academy and featured for the Arsenal first team before signing for Everton.
“I’ve definitely matured a lot,” the 27-year-old said. “I went away because I never had the minutes that I wanted and I had to go away and learn, I was playing up against such top players here and I learned so much around this environment and learning from the likes of Kelly [Smith] and Rachel Yankey. [Going on loan] was an opportunity to go and learn so much, but not only on the pitch but off the pitch as well. I think I’ve really grown up and I took a step out of my comfort zone, so [I’m] coming back very mature and I think for me, my mentality is to win and that’s what I came to this club to do.”