“I’ll forever be grateful” to Arsenal – Chloe Kelly speaks out on Gunners future after Women’s Champions League triumph | OneFootball

The last six months have been a whirlwind for Chloe Kelly.

Having left Manchester City on loan in search of happiness, the 27-year-old certainly seems to have found it in North London. When she held the trophy aloft at the Estádio José Alvalade on Saturday after Stina Blackstenius found the winning goal against Barcelona, Kelly could barely contain her grin.

“As soon as I stepped in this club, I found happiness,” the England forward explained following the victory. “Renée Slegers – as soon as she got on the phone to me to give me the opportunity to represent this badge, I wanted to repay her.”

“From being in such a dark place to now, it’s crazy.”

Not only has Kelly rediscovered her happiness, she’s been in fine form too – and with the Euros rapidly approaching, her loan move to North London couldn’t have come at a better time. “I was ready to take a break from football completely,” she revealed.

Kelly rose through the Arsenal Academy as a child and reflected on her career trajectory, explaining that she “was speaking to Lotte [Wubben-Moy] on the pitch after the game. Me and Lotte used to get the underground to Finsbury Park, [then] Finsbury Park to Potters Bar. Potters Bar, we used to get off at get a bus, and get off at the M25 bridge and walk to the training ground. Looking back, it’s been a journey.”

“To do it with these girls is so good, players that I’ve played with growing up. […] You see the journey that everyone is on. Arsenal have always paved the way for women’s football and we continue to do so.”

Kelly’s loan deal with The Gunners will expire at the end of 2024/25.

“If it’s my last game for the club, I’ll forever be grateful. I know I’ve given my all to Arsenal Football Club, and Arsenal Football Club have given their all to me.”

She continued: “They gave me an opportunity to step foot on the pitch and find happiness. It’s not about football at times. No matter what happened today, the club gave me happiness.”