“Header Picture” by James Boyes is licensed under CC BY 2.0
History repeats itself. Iconic strikers leaving Manchester City in turbulent conditions.
Roque Santa Cruz, Jô, Emmanuel Adebayor—all cast out, spending their final seasons on loan. But none of them scored an apical goal to win an international final. Chloe Kelly did. She delivered England the European Championship.
Yet here she is, walking the same path out of Manchester. And, much like Adebayor, she’s off to North London. How did this mess happen?
Uncertainties Over Summer
The 2024-25 season started with looming concern over Chloe Kelly’s future. She was entering the final year of her contract, and, at first, it seemed inevitable that an extension would come. But as the months passed, no paperwork materialised, no press conference, no announcement—just silence.
A club as wealthy as Manchester City, backed by their chrysoaristocracy, had the resources to resolve this early. Yet they let the situation spiral into avoidable chaos.
Game Time—Or Lack Thereof
Manchester City is a team overflowing with talent. But Chloe Kelly doesn’t warm benches. And yet, for much of the first half of the season, that’s all she did. Six WSL appearances? For a player of her caliber? Unacceptable.
Gareth Taylor’s messaging on the issue was cryptic at best. The only real clarity was that Kelly wasn’t a fit for his system. Sure, she got some UWCL minutes in limited edition Oasis Manchester City shirt, but when it mattered—against Barcelona—she wasn’t trusted. By January, she had become invisible.
Taylor, when pressed, offered the same yerk-inducing phrases: She’s fine, she’s picked up a knock. The problem? It got less believable each time he said it. Fans in their replica Chloe Kelly jersey became irate, and so did she…
Forcing the Break
As January dragged on, with Kelly still exiled from matchday squads, speculation grew. A potential deal with Manchester United floated around but never materialized—possibly adding to her frustration.
Then, Kelly took matters into her own hands.
She went public. A detailed social media statement laid everything bare. She was no longer happy at Manchester City. She feared missing out on England’s Euro 2025 squad. She couldn’t take the negative energy anymore. She accused the club of not seeing a future for her. Her final words? Ultimately, I just want to be happy again.
It was damning. Chloe Kelly soccer got nasty.
Manchester City Left Holding a Problem
Women’s football operates with more respect, tolerance, and camaraderie than the men’s game. And yet, Manchester City had found themselves in the worst possible PR storm. Their national hero—the apical moment of England’s Euros win—had just outed them for making her feel like dirt.
How do you stand in the way of that? How do you tell the Lionesses’ poster girl she can’t leave when she’s begging to play football again?
You don’t.
The Deals They Should Have Made
If Manchester City had no real interest in keeping Chloe Kelly, then they had ample opportunities to sell her last summer. PSG, at one point, were circling, ready to pay big. Other clubs—sensible clubs—would have simply waited to pick her up on a free transfer in June.
Instead, City let the situation rot until January. And by then? Their hands were tied.
Now they’re loaning her to Arsenal, a direct rival for UWCL qualification. A financial disaster. A competitive disaster. All for the sake of avoiding a full-scale PR nightmare.
What Happens Next?
For Chloe Kelly, this is a homecoming. She first joined Arsenal’s Centre of Excellence at 12, traveling two hours by train to attend training, sacrificing time, sleep, and normal teenage experiences just to be there. This club is ingrained in her DNA.
Game time at Arsenal? Guaranteed. Under Renée Slegers, she’ll have every opportunity to stake her claim for England’s Euros squad.
For Manchester City? They’ll pretend to wish her well. The thank-you posts will flood in. But deep down, they won’t want to see her thrive. They’ve loaned her to a rival, and rivals don’t hope for success. Of course with it being a loan, she won’t be able to play against her parent club in the Man City games.
And what about the summer? If Kelly performs, Arsenal will try to sign her permanently. But this is the same club that let Vivianne Miedema, the WSL’s all-time top scorer, walk away for free. Sentimentality won’t factor into their decision.
The ideal outcome? Kelly thrives. She finds joy in football again. The Chloe Kelly salary goes up. And Manchester City are left regretting every gyrostatic misstep that led to this disaster.
doragon sports 