Calacus Monthly Hit & Miss – England forward Chloe Kelly
Every month we look at the best or worst communicators in the sports world from the last few weeks.
CHLOE KELLY
Chloe Kelly has had a turbulent time of late, and in this month’s Hit & Miss we will discuss what has led to her Arsenal return on loan, and how she has navigated the spotlight on her challenges this season.
Kelly’s career began at Arsenal, coming through the North-London side’s Centre of Excellence. In a statement released in 2016, when Kelly’s first professional contract was signed, then Arsenal Women manager Pedro Martinez Losa said: “Her potential is huge so we want to give her, not just Chloe but all the young players we have, a chance to help them develop. I think her main strength is in front of goal, she can finish with the right foot, the left foot and there is a lot of potential to work with.”
Kelly went on to join WSL Division Two side Everton in a three-month-loan loan at the start of the following season in search of more game time. After staying in Merseyside on loan for a second season, she signed for the Toffees permanently in 2018.
An impressive season saw her named in the 2019/20 PFA WSL Team of the Year, and Kelly then signed for Manchester City on a free transfer in July 2020.
She is best known for her crucial role in the Lionesses UEFA Euro 2022 triumph, the West-London born star coming off the bench to score the winning goal against Germany in the 110th minute of the final.
After four and a half years with the Citizens, though, things turned sour in Manchester.
Kelly found herself left out of Gareth Taylor’s side, starting just one WSL game in the first half of the 24/25 season.
With Euro 2025 looming in the summer, she needed to leave City for more game time to have any chance of being selected in Sarina Wiegman’s England squad who are attempting to defend their crown.
Reports circulated that Kelly was pushing for a move away from City, with her preference to avoid relocating by making a controversial transfer to cross-city-rivals Manchester United, given that her family are settled in the North West.
Kelly even deleted her tongue-in-cheek X post, referencing a Drake lyric, aimed at United fans, that stated “Never much love when we go OT” to push for the move across Manchester.
Despite not being a part of manager Gareth Taylor’s plans, City were understandably reluctant to strengthen a rival by allowing Kelly to sign for United in January, especially amid a battle for Champions League qualification.
From Kelly’s perspective however, City were affecting her career and mental health by prolonging the transfer saga, and by not allowing her to move.
She made her desire to leave public in a statement on her Instagram account, telling 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 is a true honour to do so.
“However, to be dictated whom I can and can't join with only 4 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."
Football fans are often guilty of seeing players as robots who simply play football and forgetting that they are real people whose mental wellbeing is affected by the way clubs treat them.
In the world outside of sport, the public would have no qualms with a young, recently married woman wanting to avoid relocating her family by moving to a new job in the same city, and any employer attempting to block this would be lambasted. But football is different.
It’s the harsh reality of football that players under contract may have their career halted if they’ve fallen out of favour.
Kelly touched on this on her Instagram, saying: “I'm at a pivotal point in my life, and my career is so important to me and 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."
Kelly treads a fine line by making this statement, showing the human impact of team exclusion in what is a short career.
By January 30, the final day of the WSL winter transfer window, Kelly was yet to secure a move away from City. Early on, Brighton had a loan offer accepted by City, but the deal was blocked by Kelly as she still hoped to remain in Manchester, and saw herself as a “top-3 player.”
Later in the day Kelly signed a return on-loan to Arsenal until the expiry of her Manchester City contract in the summer.
Following the move Kelly told Sky Sports News: "Things weren't great and it wasn't for a while, so I think it's important that you address those things.
"But I'm here now at Arsenal and it's a great time for me to get a smile on my face and enjoy my football again. I'm looking forward to the future.”
She represents herself in a positive light in this interview, making clear she had no desire to disrespect her old team, and simply wanted to draw a line under the issue and get on with her career.
She will be hoping her impact on Renée Slegers’s side for the remainder of the season will see her be named in the Lionesses’ squad for the Euros this summer.
The on-loan Arsenal star did take an initial hit to her England hopes, when she was not named in the initial squad for England’s Nations League ties against Portugal and Spain.
England Head Coach Sarina Wiegman explained why at a media conference: "She hasn't played enough, she has some credit, but now she has to get some minutes at Arsenal, show what she is about and we can revisit.
"We had a good conversation, she understands. She is not out for the Euros, so hopefully she gets minutes and we can revisit."
Regarding her England team omission, Kelly told Sky Sports News: "Sarina is a top manager and I put so much trust into her. She's been so successful so I think what's best for the team is me not going to this camp and getting that football in my legs.
"I want to be at the best for England and Arsenal so it's really important that I listen to the people around me and move forward.”
Kelly made her second Arsenal debut on the February 16, coming off the bench to play 30 minutes in the Gunners 5-0 North London derby victory to the delight of the sellout Emirates Stadium crowd.
When asked about her Euros ambitions following her second Arsenal debut, she told Sky Sports: “I think for me I need to get my head down, work hard, and be ready when called upon.”
Her comments show an understanding and humility towards the situation she is in. Regardless of the circumstances that led her to this point, she had only started one WSL game this season, and needs to work hard if she is to play for England this summer.
Kelly did go on to play in England’s Nations League fixtures, having been added to the squad following Arsenal teammate Beth Mead’s injury. She came off the bench in both the Portugal and Spain games.
Suzy Lycett's stunning shot of Chloe Kelly's goal v West Ham for The Gooner fanzine. Credit- Boodlepim
She then made a positive impact when Arsenal found themselves 2-0 down to West Ham, scoring on the stroke of half-time and helping the Gunners to an eventual 4-3 victory.
Kelly’s future is still uncertain, with her chances of making the Euro squad still in the balance.
In a world where footballers are under intense scrutiny, Kelly has managed to navigate the spotlight around her Manchester City exit with grace. She has done what is best for her England career, whilst getting her head down and focusing on her football.
With thanks to Anthony Francis Brown