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 and made two approaches 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 rivals United never materialised.
The Lionesses star is free to join United at the end of the season, with her contract expiring this summer and having only made one WSL start for City this season.
But Kelly will spend the remainder of the season in north London as she hopes to play more first-team football amid concerns about her place in the England squad for this summer's 2025 Euros.
She will be ineligible to play against her parent club in the WSL on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, and the League Cup semi-final meeting which takes place four days later.
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."
Kelly will wear the No 18 jersey at Arsenal.
Kelly releases another strongly-worded statement
Kelly has taken to social media to offer her side of the story in a dramatic transfer saga, and posted another strongly-worded statement on her Instagram story after Thursday's move.
She said: "So disappointed to find out tonight that people at the club are briefing journalists against me if I am to sign at a club before the window shuts.
"They've called reporters to assassinate my character and tried to plant negative stories about me in the football media. Of which is false accusations.
"Women should look after each other, and build each other up... not shoot them down to protect their employers. To those responsible, l am disappointed in this. As said in my previous statement I just want to find happiness again."
Sky Sports News has approached Man City for comment on Kelly's latest post.
It followed a previous post on Wednesday, in which Kelly expressed her disappointment that she had not been able to leave City earlier this month.
Sky Sports News understands City had only received one suitable bid for Kelly before the statement and that it had been with her to consider ahead of the window closing.
Sky Sports News reached out to Kelly on Wednesday after she said on Instagram she was "disappointed" that "who she can and cannot join" was "being dictated" to her. That followed a breakdown in relations between the club and her management after meetings.
It is understood the club told her she could not be replaced this month but then signed Brazil international Kerolin Nicoli from North Carolina Courage. Kelly felt the club were holding onto her as a matter of pride.
Kelly's contract with City ends in four months and England manager Sarina Wiegman is believed to be keen for her to get regular game time ahead of the Euros this summer. Kelly still considers herself a "top-three" player.
Kelly said in her statement on Wednesday: "For a long time, I've tried to work through professional challenges privately, not commenting publicly, but with my situation increasingly being debated in the public domain, I feel it's time to be open and transparent and you heard it from my perspective.
"A key lesson I have learned in my life is that, while I can't control someone's negative behaviour towards me, I can control how long I am prepared to tolerate it. From day one, I've felt so much love from my team-mates and the fans.
"With my contract expiring in June, I've accepted my future is not at this club beyond then. With the Euros fast approaching, this summer is a huge one and I want to be in a position to give it my best shot to represent my country."
Analysis: Kelly far 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 last-minute loan switch to Arsenal felt messy, albeit could be a move that really works for both parties.
Gareth Taylor had been questioned about Kelly's lack of minutes this season - 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 was fair enough but the manager never really addressed why Kelly has not 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 broken down 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.
Hopefully Arsenal offer her what she needs to rediscover that spark.
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