After the season, Thiago Silva will depart from Chelsea

Thiago Silva has declared that he will sign a free agency contract with Chelsea at the end of the current campaign.

The 39-year-old Brazilian has made over 150 appearances since joining Chelsea in the summer of 2020, and he has irrevocably changed the club’s history by being a key player in its victories in the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.

Since Silva’s contract is slated to expire in the summer, there has been a lot of speculation in recent weeks over his future.

Silva’s plan to move on at the end of the 2023–24 season has now been announced by Chelsea and Silva.

In a statement shared on the club’s official website, 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.