Chloe Kelly has insisted England’s European Championship title defence is her only focus, amid reports of Arsenal seeking to sign her on a permanent basis, but she has spoken in glowing terms about her loan with the club and the Women’s Champions League triumph in May.
Kelly’s contract with Manchester City expires at the end of June and on Tuesdaythe Athleticreported that the 27-year-old winger had granted Arsenal a period of exclusivity to discuss a potential three-year contract.
Asked later whether she would like to stay at Arsenal and how likely that transfer felt, Kelly replied: “To be honest, I’m just allowing my representatives to do the work behind the scenes. My focus is solely on England. They [Arsenal] took me from a really dark place and gave me an opportunity but we achieved incredible things together, so let’s see what happens.”
The former Arsenal youth player scored the winning goal when the Lionesses secured their European crown in 2022, and she added the club European title to her CV when Arsenal defeated Barcelona in Lisbon. Kelly said of the Champions League win: “It was an incredible moment for English sport and English women’s sport. It’s made us very excited [for] the Euros now.”
“I feel like I’ve grown so much from being at Arsenal. Every day I was learning from a great manager in Renée [Slegers]. I learned so much on the pitch and off the pitch from her. She’s a great person and to come away with a Champions League is incredible. She gave me belief and confidence and I will always be grateful for her.”
Kelly was speaking at the national football centre, St George’s Park, on England’s squad media day, two and a half weeks before their Euro 2025 Group D opener against France in Zurich. The Lionesses received positive news on Monday with the return to full training of Lauren James.
The Chelsea forward, who sustained a hamstring injury in April, said: “I always had in my head that I was going to make it [to the European Championship]. I never really doubted myself, because I think as soon as you have a doubt in your head, then it’s always negative thoughts. Obviously I didn’t tell people that. I took it day by-day.
“Lucy [Bronze] and I always kept in touch. She always would say: ‘You’ll be there.’ Then obviously having that support, it always makes you kind of think: ‘Oh, yeah, I’ll be there as well.’I feel good. I’m looking forward to another tournament.”
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James’s return is another boost after the returns from longer-term injuries of Lauren Hemp, Alex Greenwood and Georgia Stanway, who sustained knee injuries last season but – like James – have returned in time for this tournament.