England forward Chloe Kelly has officially left Manchester City after five years and is joining her girlhood club Arsenal following her contract expiry.
As one of the biggest stars in the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) and hero of the current Lionesses squad, most Man City supporters would have been hoping to keep hold of Chloe Kelly for as long as possible, but now the talented attacker has returned to Arsenal on a permanent deal.
The 27-year-old London-born star spent the end of last season on loan there, where she came through the academy as a youngster, but has now made the move back down south full-time after a successful 2024/25 campaign, which saw the Gunners win their first Women’s Champions League in 18 years.
Securing the switch on a free transfer, pending the completion of standard regulatory processes, she is reported to have signed a three-year deal and will keep the number 18 shirt.
— DAZN Women's Football (@DAZNWFootball) July 2, 2025
Although the fee is yet to be confirmed, it looks to be a deal that suits both parties.
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Speaking on the move, Kelly – who previously shone on Merseyside as part of Everton’s women’s team, too – said she is “excited to win more trophies”, insisting, “This is the place I want to be.”
In her full statement shared via club media, she added: “Putting pen to paper on a permanent contract at Arsenal is a standout moment for me. Learning from an incredible manager and continuing to build relationships with an excellent team is a journey I’m looking forward to continuing…
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“I’ve always said that Arsenal supporters are the best, and to have them on my side, singing my name, means so much to me.”
Meanwhile, City Women expressed their gratitude for her time in sky blue, writing, “Everyone at City would like to thank Chloe for her efforts during her time at the Joie Stadium and would like to wish her the best for the future.”
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) July 2, 2025
Kelly leaves the Etihad Campus having scored on 34 occasions across a total of 113 appearances for City, including 14 assists in her last full year with the club, as well as an impressive 16 goals in her debut season as MCWFC women the FA Cup.
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Her time with Gareth Taylor’s team was largely curtailed by an unfortunate ACL injury which brought a premature end to her maiden term, but she was still voted fans’ Player of the Season at the end of 20/21, as well as picking up the Women’s Player of the Year at the North West Football Awards in November.
She was also named in the PFA’s Team of the Year and, most famously, scored the winning goal as Sarina Weigman’s Lionesses beat Germany in that thrilling 2022 UEFA Women’s Euros final – the nation’s first major honour since 1966.
Many will be sad to see her go, but the club have at least signed an exciting new replacement to bolster the forward line, with highly-rated teenager, Iman Beney, arriving in Manchester from BSC YB Frauen on a four-year deal at just 18.
WWE is returning to Manchester for first-ever box office televised event
Danny Jones
The WWE is coming back to Manchester for what looks set to be one of their biggest overseas event yet, let alone just here in 0161.
Following spectacles such as WWE Live and the ‘Road to Clash in Paris’ last summer, WWE is bringing proper SmackDown scenes to the UK and Europe early next year.
Announcing the blockbuster booking on Monday, 10 August, WWE has chosen the Co-op Live arena to host an unprecedented first televised edition outside of the US this coming January.
Confirming an all-star cast of competitors for one of the franchise’s biggest promotions, this one is a must-not-miss for Manc wrestling fans.
As per the caption of the announcement: “WWE brings the 2027 Road to Royal Rumble European Tour to Co-op Live, the first ever WWE televised event.
“Fans will see their favourite WWE Superstars in action including Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk, Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes, Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins, World Tag Team Champions The Vision and many more.”
Last time the world-famous sports entertainment company came to our city, we got to see the likes of Jey Uso, Rhea Ripley, GUNTHER, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair and more.
Safe to say that we have been fortunate enough to see many of their most famous faces grace the canvas already.
Manchester, of course, isn’t the only domestic/European ‘Road to Royal Rumble’ date on the calendar in 2027 either.
For anyone looking to grab tickets for the next Manchester WWE show at Co-op Live, you can sign up to find out all the details at the first opportunity right HERE.
Once again, official Co-op members get early access via the venue’s exclusive pre-sale window, and you can expect general admission to sell out fast, so keep your eyes peeled…
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via Co-op Live)/The Manc Group
Sport
New number ‘confirmed’ as Marcus Rashford returns to Manchester United
Danny Jones
Against the odds and the transfer gods, local lad Marcus Rashford has officially rejoined Manchester United for pre-season, and it looks as though his new shirt number has been revealed.
It’s one with a fair bit of significance for a couple of reasons, too.
Yes, despite it looking nailed on for Rashford to have all but left Man United ‘for good’ following two loan stints at Aston Villa and a successful spell at FC Barcelona last term, the Wythenshawe winger has returned to Carrington and now looks set to be reintegrated into the squad.
Just goes to show that besides the Red Devils having seen plenty of sagas in their time, anything can happen in a transfer window.
As you can see, the homegrown United academy product turned first-team star and England international was spotted driving into the team’s training complex to link back up with his former teammates and, indeed, some new faces since he left.
The last time Rashford played for his boyhood and still parent club was back in December 2024, and his most recent loan deal to Barcelona was expected to be made permanent provided he performed well – which, with 14 goals and 10 assists, he did.
Plenty of Barca fans were more eager to see him join his self-proclaimed dream destination full-time, too.
However, not only were the Catalan giants ultimately unwilling to pay the estimated €30 million transfer fee for his services – not to mention his significant wage demands – but after they decided to sign Newcastle and fellow Three Lions attacker Anthony Gordon in a similar position, it never came to fruition.
Now seemingly set to be given another chance in the senior setup and a chance at getting into the first-team squad under Michael Carrick, who has seen every up and down of Rashford’s time at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’; he’s also set to carry on wearing the same shirt number he did for the ‘Blaugrana’.
Reportedly set to take the vacant #14 jersey, which has been free since Christian Eriksen left the club in May 2025, it provides some kind of continuity from his fruitful chapter away from home.
Not only did Rashford supposedly select the shirt while in Spain due to his admiration for Thierry Henry, who famously shared a similar kind of inside forward role throughout his career, but it’s been noted by many fans that it’s also the same number his best mate Jesse Lingard used to wear.
While it remains to be seen how happy the 28-year-old is to have ended up back at Old Trafford, this has at least served as a nice little full-circle coincidence for some supporters.
As for the apparent reintegration process itself – what do you make of it, Reds: are you among those glad to see him back in United colours, or do you think he should still look at a move away from the club in the near future?
Danny Jones -
2nd July 2025 
