‘I needed this summer’ – what next for Arsenal’s Kelly?
Chloe Kelly has opened up about her return to form and mindset at Arsenal, having joined the club in January 2025 after a difficult, publicly aired departure from Manchester City. The England forward, who has since won the Champions League and helped the Lionesses retain their European Championship title, says the move initially brought "a fear of the unknown" but has proved a turning point for her career, even as injury disrupted her most recent Arsenal season.
Kelly scored twice with five assists in the second half of 2024-25 as Arsenal won the Women's Champions League, and scored the decisive penalty in England's Euro 2025 shootout win over Spain. However, injury restricted her to just four Women's Super League starts last season, prompting her to use the summer to focus on physical conditioning ahead of the new campaign, which begins on Friday 4 September. Arsenal have also seen significant squad changes, losing Beth Mead and Katie McCabe to Manchester City and Chelsea respectively while bringing in seven new signings, including England's Georgia Stanway and Barcelona full-back Ona Batlle.
- Chloe Kelly reflects on tough Man City exit and Arsenal revival
- Injury limited her to four WSL starts last season
- Arsenal add Stanway, Batlle as Mead and McCabe depart
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Chloe Kelly is an England forward who had a difficult and public departure from Manchester City. She joined Arsenal in January 2025, moving to escape the situation and start afresh.
During her time at Arsenal, Kelly has achieved considerable success despite facing injury problems. She contributed to the club winning the Women's Champions League and scored a crucial penalty in England's Euro 2025 victory, though injury then limited her to just four league appearances in the most recent season.
Arsenal have made substantial changes to their squad by bringing in seven new players, including England midfielder Georgia Stanway, whilst losing several established players to rivals. These shifts reshape the team that Kelly will be playing with as she looks to build on her recovery and return to full fitness in the coming season.