Chloe Kelly: From Manchester City Loan to Champions League Glory and National Hero
In January 2025, Chloe Kelly was loaned from Manchester City to Arsenal. By May 2025, she had helped Arsenal win the Champions League with a 1-0 victory over Barcelona in the final. Her status at the club was cemented in July 2025 when Arsenal signed her permanently.
Kelly has been a crucial figure for England, notably scoring the winning penalty in the 2025 European Championship final against Spain, securing England's second continental title. This followed her decisive winning goal in the 2022 Euros final against Germany.
Her career has seen challenges, including an ACL injury in 2021. Female footballers face a higher risk of ACL injuries, and the current season saw seven players in the Women's Super League suffer such injuries, with calendar congestion identified as a contributing factor. In December 2025, Kelly sustained a ligament injury in the back of her knee during a match against Ghana, sidelining her until Christmas.
Kelly's mental strength is bolstered by work with sports psychologists, focusing on confidence and self-belief as she seeks to control her destiny in football following her Champions League success.
Earlier in 2024, dispute over playing time at Manchester City led her to request a release. She moved on loan to Arsenal and later joined them permanently. Kelly publicly accused Manchester City of briefing journalists against her during this period.
Hailing from the Windmill Park estate in Southall, Kelly is the youngest of seven siblings, including five brothers (three of whom are triplets) and a sister named Paris. She is married to Scott Moore and has two dogs. Her family remains a vital source of support.
In recognition of her performances, Kelly finished fifth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or Féminin and was named in the FIFPro World 11 for the first time that year.
