Chloe Kelly has officially signed a permanent deal with Arsenal after a successful loan spell with the club. The 27-year-old England forward's move to the Gunners comes after her contract with Manchester City expired. Kelly had spent the second half of last season on loan with Arsenal, where she scored two goals and provided five assists in 13 appearances.

Kelly's contributions were pivotal in Arsenal's Women's Champions League victory, their first since 2007. She started in their 1-0 final win over Barcelona in May. Her return to Arsenal marks a homecoming for the London-born player, who joined the club's academy at the age of 12 in 2010. She made 19 appearances for the first team between 2015 and 2018, scoring nine goals, before departing for Everton.

Prior to her loan spell at Arsenal, Kelly played for Manchester City, where she made 109 appearances and scored 30 goals. During her time there, she won the 2020 FA Cup and the 2022 League Cup. At the international level, Kelly has 53 appearances and eight goals for England, including the winning goal in the Euro 2022 final. She was also a key member of the Lionesses squad that reached the final of the 2023 Women's World Cup.

Arsenal's head coach, Renée Slegers, expressed her delight at securing Kelly's permanent signing. She noted Kelly's significant impact on the team last season and her crucial role in their achievements. Slegers also acknowledged Kelly's ambition to compete for more titles, a vision shared by the club.

Arsenal's director of women's football, Clare Wheatley, echoed Slegers' sentiments, stating her excitement about keeping Kelly at the club. Wheatley praised Kelly's outstanding application, attitude, and performances during her loan spell and expressed her anticipation for their continued collaboration in the upcoming 2025/26 campaign.

Chloe Kelly expressed her excitement about signing a permanent contract with Arsenal. She highlighted the significance of this moment in her career and her eagerness to learn from the team's manager and build on her relationships with her teammates. Kelly also conveyed her enthusiasm for winning more silverware with Arsenal and sharing those victories with the club's supporters. She acknowledged the Arsenal fans as the best and expressed how much their support and chants mean to her.

Kelly's move to Arsenal was highly anticipated, with other Women's Super League clubs and teams in the USA expressing interest. However, Kelly's preference was always to remain with Arsenal. Sky Sports News' Anton Toloui noted that Kelly only wanted to join Arsenal, despite interest from Manchester United, Chelsea, and others.

Kelly's permanent move to Arsenal comes as she prepares to represent England in the Euro 2025. The Lionesses are aiming to retain their title, and Kelly is expected to play a key role in their campaign. Kelly will continue to wear the number 18 shirt at Arsenal.