Chloe Arthur Returns to Celtic Ahead of SWPL Season

Celtic have brought one of their own back home. A decade after leaving Glasgow to build a career in England, Chloe Arthur has returned to Celtic FC Women on a short-term deal ahead of the 2026/27 SWPL campaign.

For Arthur, it is not just another move. It is a return to the club where it all started, to the academy pitches where a 16-year-old midfielder first broke into the senior side after leaving local team Erskine YFC. Back then, she was the promising kid fast-tracked through the ranks. Now she comes back as a seasoned international.

Career Progression

Her rise after leaving Celtic was swift. At 20, she earned her first Scotland cap, debuting against Northern Ireland in February 2015. That same year she spent a season with Hibernian, playing her part in a run to the 2015 Scottish Cup final and showing she could handle big domestic occasions.

England came calling in 2016. Arthur joined Bristol City in the second tier and wasted no time making an impact, scoring on her debut and helping the Robins secure promotion. It was the start of a decade-long spell south of the border that hardened her game and broadened her experience.

Birmingham City, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace – each stop added another layer. At Palace, where she signed in the summer of 2022, Arthur became a central figure. Across her first two seasons she made more than 40 appearances, anchoring midfield and contributing a goal as the Eagles clinched the WSL2 title in May 2023. Seventeen league appearances, one crucial strike, and a promotion to show for it.

The momentum didn’t stop there. Arthur remained a key part of the Palace side through the 2024/25 campaign, helping drive the club to a second promotion in three years and into WSL1. By then, she was no longer just a dependable squad player; she was a leader in a team on the rise.

International Experience

Her international résumé tells its own story. Arthur has represented Scotland at two major tournaments – the 2017 UEFA Women’s European Championship and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup – placing her among the country’s most experienced midfield options of her generation.

So when she walked back into Celtic’s training ground, this was not a youngster trying to break through. This was a full international returning with a decade of top-level football behind her, speaking of a “full circle moment,” of familiar faces and a place that “feels like home.”

Coach’s Perspective

Head coach Grant Scott knows exactly what he is getting. He called Arthur “a quality midfielder with experience playing at the highest level for both club and country,” and highlighted her professionalism and leadership – traits Celtic will lean on as they shape their squad for the new season. She is not being signed to make up the numbers. She is being brought back to influence games and standards.

Celtic’s message was simple: welcome home. The real question now is how far this homecoming can help drive them in the 2026/27 title race.