Manchester City forward Chloe Kelly joins Arsenal on loan on WSL Deadline Day

Chloe Kelly has joined Arsenal on loan until the end of the season from Manchester City after completing a dramatic move on WSL Deadline Day.

Manchester United had also been in the running to sign the 27-year-old before Thursday's 11pm deadline, but Kelly has moved to the Gunners, where she started her senior career.

Kelly's preference was to stay in Manchester, which is why she turned down the chance to sign for Brighton earlier in this window, but an agreement between City and United never materialised.

The Lionesses star would be free to join United at the end of the season, with her contract expiring this summer.

But Kelly will play the remainder of the season in north London as she hopes to play more first-team football after concerns about her place in the England squad for this summer's 2025 Euros.

Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers said: "Chloe is an exciting attacking player and will be a great addition to our squad as we approach the second half of the season. She's direct and explosive, with huge natural talent and ability.

"We're all looking forward to working with Chloe as an Arsenal player in the coming months."

Meanwhile, Arsenal's director of women's football Clare Wheatley said: "We're thrilled to welcome Chloe back to Arsenal.

"As an academy graduate, we've been proud to see the career she's gone on to enjoy, both at club and international level.

"We're delighted she'll be representing Arsenal again as we aim to compete for honours this season."

Analysis: Kelly too talented to be a squad player

Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:

The curious case of Chloe Kelly. England's Euro 2022 final saviour and so often in recent years a match-winner for Manchester City too. But something has gone awry this season and the writing has been on the wall for some time.

Gareth Taylor has been questioned about Kelly's lack of minutes - only 165 in the WSL - on numerous occasions and remained coy, while choosing not to add any fuel to the transfer speculation fire. The latter is fair enough but the manager has never really addressed why Kelly hasn't been playing.

This is a winger that formed one third of the most fearsome attacking trio in the WSL last term - alongside Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp - scoring and assisting for fun as City mounted a serious title challenge. Kelly registered 10 goal contributions and generated 51 chances, the second-best creative threat behind Manchester United's Katie Zelem.

Clearly her relationship with Taylor has reached an impasse but Kelly has so much to offer and is desperate to prove her worth to Sarina Wiegman before the England boss makes her squad selection for this summer's Euros.

At 27, she's only just entering her peak years, not beyond them.