Manchester City forward Chloe Kelly joins Arsenal on loan on WSL Deadline Day

Chloe Kelly is affiliated with Arsenal on loan until the end of the season from Manchester City.

Manchester United had also been in the race to sign the 27-year-old before the Deadline on Thursday 11 p.m., but Kelly moved to the Gunners, where she started her senior career.

Kelly's preference was to stay in Manchester, so she rejected the chance to sign for Brighton earlier in this window, but an agreement between City and United has never been materialized.

The Lionesses star would be free to become a member of United at the end of the season, where her contract ends this summer.

But Kelly plays the rest of the season in North London, because she hopes to play more First team football after concern about her place in the English team for this summer in 2025 euros.

Arsenal head coach Renee Sleesers said: “Chloe is an exciting attacking player and will be a great addition to our team when we approach the second half of the season. She is immediately and explosive, with enormous natural talent and power.

“We are all looking forward to working with Chloe as an Arsenal player in the coming months.”

In the meantime, Arsenal's director of Women's Football Clare Wheatley said: “We are very happy to welcome Chloe back in Arsenal.

“As a graduate Academy, we are proud of the career that they are enjoying further, both at club and international level.

“We are pleased that she will represent Arsenal again, because we want to compete for honor this season.”

Analysis: Kelly too talented to be a team player

Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:

The curious thing of Chloe Kelly. England's Euro 2022 Last savior and so often also in recent years a competition winner for Manchester City. But something went wrong this season and writing has been on the wall for a while.

Gareth Taylor was questioned about Kelly's lack of minutes – only 165 in the WSL – on different occasions and remained cautious, while he chose not to add fuel to the transfer speculation fire. The latter is fair enough, but the manager has never really tackled why Kelly did not play.

This is a wing player who was a third of the most frightening attacking trio in the WSL previous term – in addition to Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp – scoring and helping for fun while the city set up a serious title challenge. Kelly registered 10 target contributions and generated 51 opportunities, the second best creative threat behind Katie Zelem of Manchester United.

It is clear that her relationship with Taylor has reached an impasse, but Kelly has so much to offer and is desperate to prove her value to Sarina Wiegman before the English boss makes her squad selection for this summer's euro.

At 27 she only comes in her peak years, not outside them.

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