Chloe Kelly was rotting on the Manchester City bench before the turn of the year, who could have thought that the following seven months or thereabouts would bring her closer to the limelight, for all the right reasons?
And how did it happen? Not content with a bench role at a club where she was once the star, she made the decision to join Arsenal, where many would have thought she was in for even fiercer competition for a place.
But she is tough, made so by what she has passed through. One could guess how she has come to be so mentally strong: a career-threatening ACL injury that halted her momentum in 2021. But she overcame that hurdle, like every other in her career.
The England international was literally City’s best player in her first season at the club, and she continued to be decisive upon her return from the gruelling sidelines, even scoring that memorable winner at Wembley to help the Lionesses to their first-ever major silverware.
Chloe Kelly scored the winning penalty for England against Brazil in the Finalissima, and was also responsible for converting the penalty kick that helped her country beat Nigeria to reach the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, where they went all the way to the final.
Things were going well, until she fell out of favour under then City boss Gareth Taylor. Chloe Kelly started just one of six league appearances in the first half of the 2024–25 season, leading to a frustration that ultimately forced her to seek a move away from the club.
A Leap To Limelight | Chloe Kelly
Having confirmed she no longer saw her future at the club, Chloe Kelly joined Arsenal on loan. Manchester City, upon confirmation of the deal, added that the Arsenal academy alumnus would not return, as her three-year contract was set to expire in the summer.
Her stock began to rise again on her return to her girlhood club. Her second debut was a cameo in a 5–0 thumping of Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby. Kelly scored one and assisted another in her first start, which came in a 4–3 comeback win over West Ham United.
Chloe Kelly continued to grow in the team and made an astonishing impact in the form of two assists to help the side overturn a 2–0 first-leg deficit and beat Real Madrid 3–0 to reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals.
She eventually won over Renée Slegers and became more involved in the starting XI. On the final league game of the season, Chloe registered a goal and an assist in a thrilling 4–3 win over Manchester United, a result that helped Arsenal seal a second-place finish.
She started in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final as Arsenal beat Barcelona to win their second title in the competition, thanks to a strike from substitute Stina Blackstenius.
As a result of her impressive performances, Chloe Kelly was signed on a permanent deal earlier in the summer. She has, again, successfully rejuvenated her career in under six months — and in that period, only a few England players have been more decisive. If any.
Her latest showing off the bench against Sweden was pivotal in avoiding a disastrous night for the Lionesses. Introduced with Sarina Wiegman’s side trailing by two goals, she literally assisted two in quick succession to force extra time.
In the penalty shootout, she kept her nerves to convert a decisive fifth after England had missed three consecutive attempts before hers. She kept the hopes alive, and Lucy Bronze finally proved the winner for the defending champions.
Another iconic night to her collection. But all the good form, the hype, and the chances wouldn’t have been, if she hadn’t made the bold decision to leave Manchester City last winter.
It was all about that one leap, which will now go down as fortunate. A chance and a decision taken out of desperation. But months later, the 27-year-old can now look back and credit her guts — because she has proven it: it was all there is to glory.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
1 Comment
What a fortunate move for her,
And this also may be a motivation for our area of life, Don’t be scared to make decisions, be confident, life is all about risk,
If the decision go right congratulations but if it goes wrong, please be strong it’s never the end, one or two would have been learned.
Keep pushing you are closer thank you think.
Happy Weekend.