Veteran Chelsea defender Thiago Silva has announced that this season will be his last at Stamford Bridge.
The 39-year-old Brazilian, a mainstay of the Blues team that won the Champions League in 2021, revealed the news on social networks. “Chelsea means a lot to me, I came here with the intention of staying only one year and it ended up being four years,” wrote Silva, who arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020.
“Not only for me but also for my family. My children play for Chelsea, so it is a great pride to be part of the Chelsea family, literally because my children are here. I hope they can continue their careers here at this victorious club that many players want to be part of.”
Silva renewed his contract in 2023, citing the progress of his sons, Isago and Iago, in the club's youth ranks.
“I think in everything I did here over the four years, I always gave it my all,” he said. “But, unfortunately, everything has a beginning, a middle and an end. That doesn't mean this is a definitive ending. “I hope to leave the door open so that I can return in the near future, although in another role.”
Silva has been present during a time of great change at Chelsea, beginning his stay during the Covid pandemic. He leaves as one of the last men standing from Roman Abramovich's regime; Of the eleven from that 2021 final in Porto with Manchester City, only Ben Chilwell and Reece James remain. Only Kepa Arrizabalaga and Hakim Ziyech of the reserves are on the club's books, but both have spent this season on loan. Silva was forced to leave the field prematurely in Porto, but his impressive performances in previous rounds helped inspire Thomas Tuchel's team to reach the final.
The Brazilian, who earned 113 caps, became an outlier within the new ownership headed by Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, with plenty of experience amid a thicket of young players signed to long-term contracts. He remained a cult hero to fans even during Chelsea's last two disappointing seasons under Graham Potter, Frank Lampard and, latterly, Mauricio Pochettino.
“It is an indescribable love; I can only say thank you,” she said. “Obviously, when I started here, it was during the pandemic, so there were no fans in the stadium. But through social media it became something very special to me and then when fans started coming back to the stadium and life got back to normal, I started to feel a lot of love and respect for my story and my start here. “
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Silva's groin injury in Saturday's 2-2 draw against Aston Villa means he may not play any further in Chelsea's season. He has made 151 appearances and also won the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.
