England and Arsenal winger Chloe Kelly has revealed she was diagnosed with alopecia last year after experiencing severe anxiety that at times left her fearing she was having a heart attack.
The 27-year-old Lionesses star, who became a national hero after her decisive goal at last summer’s European Championships, spoke candidly about her mental health struggles during an appearance on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast. Kelly said the most difficult period coincided with the final months of her time at Manchester City, before her move back to Arsenal.
Kelly has previously been open about the challenges she faced at City, explaining when she left the club in January that what she described as “negative behaviour” had a significant impact on her mental wellbeing. Nearly a year on, she has now detailed the extent of her anxiety, admitting it became so debilitating that she often struggled to leave her home.
“I loved sitting in the dark and I was like, ‘This isn’t okay,’” Kelly said. “Just being by myself, quiet and sitting in the dark. It got to the point with my anxiety that I couldn’t get off the bathroom floor because I was just being sick.”
She described repeated panic attacks, saying everyday coping strategies such as walking her dogs or colouring offered little relief. “It became a vicious cycle,” she explained. “I didn’t want to feel anxious and I didn’t want to throw up, but when I felt anxious, I just needed to throw up.”
Kelly recalled one particularly serious episode in which her partner, Scott Moore, had to help her off the bathroom floor. Around the same time, she began noticing physical changes linked to her mental health.
“I started losing my hair,” she said. “I remember saying to Scott, ‘I feel like I’ve got a bald patch.’ Then I noticed another one on the other side.”
Concerned, Kelly sought medical advice while on England duty and was referred to a specialist, who diagnosed her with alopecia. The diagnosis, she said, brought home the toll anxiety was taking on her body as well as her mind.
“That was a tough time because you care about your appearance and you want to feel confident,” Kelly said. “I remember my first game at Arsenal covering my bald patches. I was having panic attacks and thought I was having a heart attack at times.”
Doctors told her the condition could take months to stabilise, a period Kelly described as emotionally draining. However, she has since seen significant improvement, with her hair growing back and her mental health improving.
“Now I look at my hair and it’s grown back,” she said. “Incredible things have happened since I made that step.”
Kelly initially returned to Arsenal — the club where she came through the youth ranks — on loan in January before completing a permanent move in the summer following a successful spell that culminated in a Champions League triumph. She credits the move back to London as a turning point.
“January was a real turning point for me,” Kelly said. “Coming back to London and to a club I love. I was in a really dark place for a while. Even going to the shops was difficult.”
She added that stepping away from a situation that was harming her mental health was crucial. “A game I love so much was affecting me in so many other ways,” she said. “Speaking up and finding happiness again was about taking a step away.”
Kelly’s openness comes as she is named on a six-person shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, alongside Rory McIlroy, Lando Norris, Hannah Hampton, Luke Littler and England rugby international Ellie Kildunne. The award will be presented on December 18, with McIlroy currently the bookmakers’ favourite.
