Man City accept loan offer from Arsenal for Chloe Kelly on WSL Deadline Day; the year-old had turned down the chance to move to Brighton as her preference was to stay in Manchester and close to family, with rivals Man Utd working on a deal; City contract is due to expire this summer. Arsenal's loan bid for Chloe Kelly has been accepted by Manchester City on Deadline Day - but Manchester United have not given up on trying to sign her. United are expected to offer improved terms before Thursday's 11pm deadline for Women's Super League teams in the hopes they can convince City to let Kelly make the move across Manchester.
Kelly's preference is to stay in Manchester, which is why she turned down the chance to sign for Brighton earlier in this window. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player.
Marc Skinner's side have been working on both loan and permanent deals for Kelly on Deadline Day. If Kelly were to join Arsenal on loan until the end of the season, it would still leave United able to sign Kelly on a free transfer in the summer when her deal runs out. Kelly had been disappointed she had not been able to leave City this month - and released a strongly-worded post on social media on Wednesday about her future.
Sky Sports News understands City had only received one suitable bid for Kelly before the statement and that had been with her to consider ahead of the window closing. Sky Sports News reached out to Kelly on Wednesday after she said on Instagram she was "disappointed" that "who she can and cannot join" was "being dictated" to her.
That followed a breakdown in relations between the club and her management after meetings. It is understood the club told her she could not be replaced this month, however they then signed Brazil international Kerolin Nicoli from North Carolina Courage. Kelly felt the club were holding onto her as a matter of pride. Kelly's contract with City ends in four months and England manager Sarina Wiegman is believed to be keen for her to get regular game time ahead of the Euros this summer.
