Taylor upset about ´really disappointing´ Kelly exit from Man City

Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor expressed his disappointment at how Chloe Kelly’s time with the Citizens came to an end.

Kelly joined Women’s Super League rivals Arsenal on loan for the rest of the 2024-25 season on Thursday after she expressed her desire to leave the club.

The 27-year-old had started just one game in the WSL for City this season and vented her frustrations in an impassioned social media post on Wednesday.

Kelly revealed that she “just wanted to be happy again”, while also citing concerns about her place in the England squad for the European Championship taking place in July.

“It’s been really disappointing to come to this and the ending it transpired to,” Taylor said in a news conference on Friday.

“We never like to hear a player has not had a good experience, and I’m sure that’s not the case for the whole period, maybe just this more recent period of not playing.

“We’re in a selection-based business where difficult decisions have to be made for the betterment of the team. Sometimes players can fall on the sharp end of that.”

Welcome back to The Arsenal

Chloe Kelly has joined us on loan for the rest of the 24/25 season.

— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) January 30, 2025

Manchester United had made an offer for Kelly on Thursday, the January deadline for the WSL, but it was rejected by City before a loan deal with Arsenal was agreed.

In a separate Instagram post on Thursday, Kelly accused people at the club of trying to “assassinate my character” by “briefing journalists against me”.

When asked about the player’s comments, Taylor said: “I don’t live in that world of social media, as any head coach would tell you, it’s not good for your health.

“I’ve tried to give you a bit of insight, but I can’t really go into real detail on our side of the story. We wish her all the best at her new club.”

The ugly situation could make for tense moments this Sunday when City host Renee Slegers’ Arsenal at the Joie Stadium in the standout fixture of the WSL weekend.

City are third in the standings, while Arsenal are a point and a place behind them after falling to a 1-0 defeat to leaders Chelsea last time out.