Thiago Silva issues promise to Chelsea fans after announcing he is leaving | Football

The 39-year-old’s contract with Chelsea expires at the end of the campaign and is understood to have reached a verbal agreement to return to his boyhood club Fluminense this summer.

The Brazilian defender was part of the Chelsea side which won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in 2021 and is widely regarded as a senior leadership figure inside the dressing room.

Chelsea have five Premier League games remaining this season but Thiago Silva may have already made his final appearance for the club after he was forced off with a groin injury in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday evening.

In a video to Chelsea fans, Tiago Silva said: ‘Chelsea means a lot to me. I came here with the intention of only staying for a year and it ended up being four years. Not just for me but for my family, too.

‘My sons play for Chelsea so it’s a source of great pride to be a part of the Chelsea family – literally because my sons are here. I hope they can continue their careers here at this victorious club that many players wish to be part of.

‘I think in everything I did here over the four years, I always gave my all. But, unfortunately, everything has a start, a middle and an end. That doesn’t mean that this is a definitive end. I hope to leave the door open so that in the near future I can return, albeit in another role here.

But…it’s an indescribable love. I can only say thank you.

‘Obviously, when I started here, it was during the pandemic so there wasn’t any fans in the stadium. But through social media, it became something very special to me and then when the fans started coming back to the stadium and life was getting back to normal, I started to feel a lot of affection and respect for my story and for my start here.

‘It is already hard saying goodbye in the most normal of circumstances but when there is a mutual love, it’s even harder. But one a Blue, always a Blue.

‘The way in which I came to the club, with the support of the club, I got to the club as a leader even though I didn’t feel like it having arrived as the new guy. It’s always difficult to integrate but bit by bit I became part of the group and (Frank) Lampard played a big part in that. I am grateful to him for that.

‘[It’s been a] dream, definitely a dream. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I could achieve such great things and win one of the best professional titles, the Champions League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

‘Goodbyes are for those that leave and don’t come back. I intend on coming back one day…’

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