Chloe Kelly wanted to give up football at the start of the year. Now she is the Lionesses’ hero for a second time.
Frozen out at Manchester City, she was emotionally drained and ready to take a break. Six months on, she scored the winning penalty that delivered back-to-back European Championships for England – three years after she had netted the winner in their first triumph.
The sliding-doors moment came in January, when Kelly made a deadline-day loan move to Arsenal. There, she rediscovered happiness and her love for the game.
Kelly is the player the Lionesses turned to throughout this tournament. She came off the bench and got two assists in the quarter-final when England had looked defeated. She was introduced as a substitute again against Italy and scored the winner in the last minute of extra-time. She did not start this final despite those heroics, but an injury to Lauren James led to her introduction in the 40th minute.
The Lionesses were trailing again after Mariona Caldentey had opened the scoring. But Kelly again provided the magic to get her side back in the game, crossing for Alessia Russo to equalise in the 57th minute.
After they had defended resolutely to make it to penalties, Kelly converted the winning spot-kick to make the Lionesses the first senior English team to win a trophy on foreign soil.
“I actually missed three penalties in training yesterday!” the jubilant Kelly revealed at full-time. “I’m really proud to be English right now. There were a lot of tears at full-time especially when I saw my family because those were the people that got me through those tough, dark moments.
“If that’s a story to tell someone that maybe experiences something the same: tough times don’t last. Just around the corner was a Champions League final, won that. Then a Euros final, won that. Thank you to everyone that wrote me off, I’m grateful.”
It is remarkable to think Kelly may not have been at this tournament if her loan move to Arsenal had not gone through. She had barely played any football for City at the midway stage of their season, her relationship with then manager Gareth Taylor having broken down some time after Euro 2022.
In November, Sarina Wiegman admitted Kelly’s lack of game time was a concern and made it clear to the forward that she needed to play to ensure a place in her squad for the Euros.
City were initially reluctant to allow Kelly leave the club. They perhaps would not have relented had Kelly not posted an extraordinary statement on social media, stating her emotional well-being was suffering. City granted Kelly’s wish at the 11th hour and the rest is history.
“Every player has their own story and every story is incredible on their own. I’m so happy for her,” Wiegman said. “She loves these moments and she wanted to take the penalty of course. To be able to score that penalty under that pressure is impressive too.”
Kelly is only one story of this incredible England team. They have defied logic for much of this tournament. They should have gone out in the quarter-final, they nearly did in the semi-final. When Spain took the lead, it was hard to see them coming from behind again. But the Lionesses always find a way.
