Chloe Kelly's future takes fresh twist as Man City accept deadline day bid from Arsenal to take Lionesses star on loan

According to The Telegraph, Kelly had been reluctant to leave Manchester, turning down an offer from Brighton due to personal reasons and her desire to stay close to family. There had also been strong interest from Manchester United, but the 26-year-old has now seen City accept an offer from Arsenal despite her earlier preference to remain in the north.

Moreover, Sky Sportsreported, City were reluctant to let her go arguing that they would not be able to sign a replacement in time. However, the club had already secured Brazil international Kerolin Nicoli from North Carolina Courage, leading Kelly to feel that her retention had been more about principle than necessity.

With Kelly’s contract set to expire in just four months, her priority has been securing regular game time to improve her chances of being selected for England at this summer’s European Championship. The forward had earlier hit out at City on Instagram, after racking up just 165 minutes in the WSL, where she wrote: “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 whilst 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. Something which has always filled me with such pride and it is a true honour to do so. However, to be dictated 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 well-being. The situation has dragged on for too long, it’s disappointing and not right.

“I’m at a pivotal point in my life and my career is so important to me and [it] is very disappointing that the sport we love can make you feel this way, especially after there’s been so much growth in our sport. This is why I’m posting this because I want to make you all aware that we as players dedicate our lives to our sport and our clubs but our dreams can be crushed whilst we live in silence. I am human and I have and will give everything to the game that I love. Ultimately, I just want to be happy again.”

Having played a crucial role in England’s Euro 2022 victory—scoring the decisive goal in the final against Germany—Kelly has often been a game-changer for both club and country. However, this season has seen a shift in her role at Manchester City, with her opportunities on the pitch becoming increasingly limited. Now, in the final hours of the transfer window it looks as though Kelly will be on the move and will have the chance to reignite her season in North London.