England hero Chloe Kelly reveals goals for new WSL season – but says she is NOT looking to World Cup yet

CHLOE KELLY knows just how quickly football can change. In January 2025, the 28-year-old considered walking away from the sport entirely after being outcast by Manchester City. Chloe Kelly says her main focus is the upcoming WSL season with Arsenal Credit: Getty The 28-year-old is not looking to the World Cup just jet Credit: Getty That was until Arsenal called to propose a loan move. Within six months, she became a Champions League winner and a back-to-back European champion with England. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! Had she not swapped Manchester for London, Kelly may have missed her flight to Switzerland last summer. So it’s no surprise that next year’s World Cup in Brazil is not at the forefront of her mind – if England even play in it. All Uefa teams – including the Lionesses – have vowed to boycott all Fifa tournaments if Gianni Infantino refuses to scrap controversial plans to sell off the World Cup to private investors. While the winger hopes to keep her spot in Sarina Wiegman’s England squad for the upcoming major tournament should they play, she is prioritising a successful campaign with Arsenal first. Kelly said: “For me, staying fit and healthy throughout the whole season is important so I get my flow, I get my rhythm. Being present in the moment is important, not looking too far ahead at the World Cup. “What can we do for Arsenal this season? What can we do this month? That is getting fit, getting ready for the season. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS WSL opening weekend fixtures 4th September – London City Lionesses vs Manchester United 5th September – Chelsea vs Aston Villa 6th September – Brighton vs Arsenal 6th September – Tottenham vs West Ham 6th September – Charlton vs Liverpool 6th September – Crystal Palace vs Everton 6th September – Manchester City vs Birmingham City “The World Cup, yeah, it’s amazing. We want to be there, but I need to stay fit. I need to be playing well in the lead up to that. So for me, my goals and assists are really important this season. “I’m going to make sure that I am ready, but I’m not looking too far ahead at the World Cup just right now because if I look at the Euros and where I was at this point before the Euros, I’d never have been there. “So now I’m like, okay, I’ll think about that closer to the time, but right now I need to focus on what I can do for Arsenal.” Kelly took part in her own individual pre-season training plan before linking back up with the Arsenal squad in July. She enlisted the help of Dan Edwards – who coaches her Baller League team, Clutch FC – to help build on her fitness levels in the hope of minimising injury risks during the 2026/27 season. The England star endured a stop-start 2025/26 campaign due to various knocks and injury concerns, but she is determined to remain consistent this term. She added: “One-to-one sessions are really important, working on things that you need in that moment instead of just the run-in. That’s not the fun bit, the fun of it is, of course, the footballing side. “Working with a coach, I worked with Dan, who is also my Baller League coach, I’ve known him since I was 16. I actually did my work experience at QPR with him, so it was nice to have a good relationship and it feels like a balance of work and enjoyment too. “So in the off-season for me it was a plan to focus and really get to work, not just all holidays and fun. “The work on the ball, off the ball, in the gym – which was really important for me this summer, the gym work, making sure that my body feels good. “But the technical side as well coming into pre-season and having already had touches on the ball, feeling good. So when you come here, you feel like the pace is good.” On what fans can expect from her game this season, Kelly continued: “For me, in and around the box, in the high areas. I know that’s something that I need to bring to the team in terms of my goals and assists, my output in games, because ultimately goals win you games. So, I think for me that’s really important, but off the ball work as well.” The new WSL season kicks off on September 4 as London City Lionesses host Manchester United. Arsenal then open their campaign away at Brighton. Comment now