Chloe Kelly: From Bathroom Floor to Euro 2025 Champion

Just months before becoming a European champion, England footballer Chloe Kelly couldn't get up from her bathroom floor in Liverpool, crushed by anxiety and panic attacks that made her hair fall out in patches.

It was January 2025, and the 27-year-old was stuck at Manchester City with limited playing time and no clear path forward. The same player who had scored the winning goal in England's historic Euro 2022 final was now considering walking away from football completely.

But Kelly did something that changed everything. She posted honestly on Instagram about how her situation was affecting "not only my career but my mental wellbeing." She refused to suffer in silence.

The post led to a deadline day move back to Arsenal, where she told coach Renee Slegers she simply wanted to enjoy football again. England manager Sarina Wiegman gave her time to breathe, taking the pressure off making the Euros squad.

The transformation came quickly. Kelly helped Arsenal win the Champions League in Lisbon, following in the footsteps of her childhood idols Kelly Smith and Rachel Yankey. Then came what Wiegman called "the most chaotic tournament ever."

At Euro 2025, Kelly became England's super-sub. She delivered two assists to rescue England against Sweden, scored a crucial penalty in that quarter-final shootout, and netted the winner against Italy in extra time.

In the final against Spain, she stepped up again for the decisive penalty. The night before, she had missed three penalties in training but never doubted she would take the fifth kick if needed.

England successfully defended their European crown and became the first senior England side to win a major tournament on foreign soil. Kelly earned the top spot on The Independent's International Women's Day influence list.

Why This Inspires

Kelly's journey resonates because she showed vulnerability at the exact moment society expects athletes to project strength. Her message is clear: speaking up when you're struggling can be the first step toward turning your story around.

"The world's full of social media where you see great things all the time, but sometimes you have to see the realness," Kelly says. She's proud of her honesty because she knows she wouldn't be where she is without it.

For young athletes watching, Kelly offers proof that dark moments don't define you. "It's important, especially for young girls, to see that not everything is bright and daisy," she explains. "Sometimes it's the dark moments that get you to those winning moments."

Kelly now speaks about how her lowest point taught her the power of controlling what she could: her voice, her choices, and her reaction to setbacks. When she missed that corner against Italy or stood on the touchline as England trailed, she focused on what came next.

From a bathroom floor in Liverpool to lifting two European trophies, Kelly's year proved that asking for help isn't giving up, it's the beginning of getting back up.