‘It was a tough time but I’m ready to move forward’, says England ace Chloe Kelly ahead of second Arsenal debut

Sponsored by. CHLOE KELLY vows she has moved on from the “dark time” that led her to leaving Manchester City for a temporary Arsenal move. The Gunners loan star hopes the London club, where she began her senior playing career, can keep their “foot on the gas” in their chase for silverware. It was on January 30 this year, the  final day for player transfers between Women’s Super League clubs this winter, that Kelly learned Arsenal wanted to sign her.

On that date the forward, 27,  whose team hosts Tottenham tomorrow, spent some time at a driving range with her husband Scott whom she married last August. Arsenal’s WSL rivals Brighton and Manchester United were also battling for her signature before the Gunners’ dramatic late bid. Kelly, who was practicing golf on transfer deadline day, hopes to help the club emerge as big hitters in the battle for trophies in the final stretch of this term.

Her switch to the north London giants from fourth-placed City was revealed by the club just three minutes before the 11pm deadline for WSL player moves. It was out of my hands of what was going to be accepted. But it was definitely exciting when Arsenal called. And tomorrow, 17 days on from her sealing a return to the Gunners, the forward could be set to play when the third-placed club host Tottenham at the Emirates.

Reflecting on the moment she learned of Arsenal’s interest, Kelly said: "He (my husband) was sat playing FIFA and he said, ‘let's go and just get out the house’. "So we went to the driving range and Arsenal contacted (my agent) and there were great conversations. "I remember calling my family straight away to tell them. "My brother went upstairs, put his Arsenal shirt on. I felt my family were really excited for the move as well, which put a smile on my face.".

Kelly’s move has seen her join some of her England pals who play for Arsenal. Her fellow national team stars at the club are Lioness skipper Leah Williams, defender Lotte Wubben-Moy, forward Beth Mead and striker Alessia Russo. When asked if any of her Gunners and England pals had spoken to her once they heard of the Gunners’ dramatic bid, Kelly added: "They were all messaging me. "They had seen the news that I could be coming and they were like, ‘are you coming?’.

"It was quite short one-word answers (in reply) to them like, ‘I don't know, we'll see’. “But as soon as I stepped into the changing room, I felt such warmth and the girls have been incredible. "It was out of my hands of what was going to be accepted etc;. "But it was definitely excited when Arsenal did call. "That's somewhere where I grew up playing and where I learned so much in my trade. "I'm really excited to give back to this club because they've given me an opportunity to put a smile on my face and also to play the game that we love.”.

Kelly’s return to the side where she made her breakthrough at a senior level at 17, was preceded by her releasing an explosive and candid public statement. In it the Lioness expressed her desire to “be happy again” and described concerns of her “dreams being crushed” after struggling for game time at City this term. The London-born forward hopes to regain a place in England's squad ahead this year’s Euros.

But the first five months of this term saw her opportunities to start for Gareth Taylor’s City side limited. So far this season, the scorer of England’s’ tournament-winning goal at the 2022 Euros has started in one WSL fixture. This in contrast to her 18 top-flight starts out of 21 games in the previous campaign during which the Cityzens took the title race to the wire before finishing second on goal difference.

This Sunday, against Tottenham, Kelly could potentially be named in a first XI line-up of a top tier fixture for the first time since October 6. Back then her last first team outing in the league was during a 2-0 Man City defeat of West Ham. It was a relief that I had spoken in how I needed to speak and whether my move got over the line or not. On how this season has at times felt for her due to the lack of match action, Kelly said: “It's been tough mentally. It's been draining at times.

“But 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. Kelly’s statement was issued with the forward entering the final months of her contract with Man City. Her current deal with her parent club is due to expire in June with the player becoming a free agent then. Of her mindset at certain points this term and how she felt about issuing a public statement, Kelly added: "It was still a dark time for me because I didn't know how my future looked.