Arsenal sign Chloe Kelly on loan from Manchester City

England international joins Arsenal for the remainder of the season.

Chloe Kelly watches from the stands during the UEFA Women's Champions League match at Manchester City Academy Stadium on December 12, 2024, in Manchester, England. Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

By Randy Ahmad and Hayu Andini

Arsenal have secured the loan signing of Chloe Kelly from Manchester City for the remainder of the season. The England international, who is out of contract at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, joins the Gunners in search of more playing time ahead of this summer’s European Championship.

Kelly had been the subject of two transfer approaches from Manchester United, but City rejected both bids. The Women's Super League (WSL) transfer window closed at 11 p.m. on Thursday, with Arsenal finalizing the deal late on deadline day.

As part of the agreement, Kelly is ineligible to face Manchester City in Sunday’s WSL fixture or the League Cup semi-final next Thursday.

Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers welcomed Kelly’s arrival, emphasizing her attacking qualities. “Chloe is an exciting attacking player and will be a great addition to our squad as we approach the second half of the season,” Slegers said. “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.”

Kelly addresses Manchester City exit

Kelly’s move comes amid a period of uncertainty about her future at City. The 27-year-old winger has struggled for game time this season, often used as a substitute after losing her starting place towards the end of the previous campaign. She has made just six WSL appearances in the current season.

Earlier this month, sources told The Athletic that Kelly’s relationship with City manager Gareth Taylor had deteriorated. The club also bolstered their attacking options in January by signing Brazilian forward Kerolin, adding to a squad that already includes Lauren Hemp, Mary Fowler, and Aoba Fujino.

Kelly took to social media on Wednesday to express her frustration over the handling of her situation. “With my contract expiring in June, I’ve accepted my future is not at this club beyond then,” she wrote. “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.

“However, to be dictated to whom I can and can’t join with only four months left of the football season is having a huge impact on not only my career but my mental wellbeing. The situation has dragged on for too long; it’s disappointing and not right.”

England selection remains intact despite limited minutes

Despite her lack of playing time at City, Kelly has remained a key part of Sarina Wiegman’s England squad. The national team manager acknowledged in November that her limited minutes at club level were a concern but insisted that Kelly had “built enough credit” to continue receiving call-ups.

“I think it’s a concern right now already,” Wiegman said at the time. “That’s a hard situation—competition at Manchester City is high. Chloe knows that she’s not in the best position at her club at the moment, but she has enough credit to bring her in, related to the whole team and availability of players.”

Kelly joined City from Everton in 2020 and has enjoyed notable success, winning both the FA Cup and League Cup during her time at the club. She registered a career-high 10 goals and 12 assists during the 2020-21 WSL campaign before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that sidelined her for much of the following year.

After returning from injury, Kelly played a pivotal role in England’s victorious Euro 2022 campaign, famously scoring the winning goal in the final against Germany.

With Arsenal pushing for silverware this season, Kelly’s arrival provides a timely boost to their attacking options. The Gunners currently sit among the top contenders in the WSL and will be aiming to capitalize on her experience and skill in the crucial months ahead.