Chloe Kelly's Transformative Journey: From Manchester City to Euro 2025 Heroics
Chloe Kelly's football career saw significant developments throughout 2024 and 2025. In January 2025, she left Manchester City, initially joining Arsenal on loan for the remainder of the season. By July 2025, she had signed permanently with Arsenal. Earlier, in November 2024, England manager Sarina Wiegman had expressed concern over Kelly's limited playing time at City, highlighting the difficult situation she faced.
In May 2025, Kelly achieved a major milestone by winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League with Arsenal, defeating Barcelona 1-0 in the final. Following this success, she reflected on taking control of her own career and expressed regret for not speaking out earlier about her circumstances.
Kelly's influence extended to the international stage in July 2025, where she scored the decisive penalty in the Euro 2025 final against Spain, securing England's second European title. However, in December 2025, she suffered a knee ligament injury during a match against Ghana, which was expected to sideline her until Christmas.
Kelly's journey in football has also been marked by challenges, including a significant ACL injury in 2021 that she described as a turning point in her mindset. She emphasized the higher risk of ACL injuries among women footballers and advocated for more research, especially considering the demanding nature of the football calendar.
Hailing from the Windmill Park estate in Southall, Kelly is the youngest of seven siblings. She played on boys’ teams in her early life and is honored with a commemorative plaque at her former training ground.
