Chelsea have confirmed club captain Millie Bright is set to retire from football at the end of this season.
The 32-year-old called time on her international career with England back in 2025 and has now made the decision to end her playing career altogether, saying she is “ready to say goodbye to football”.
Signed from Doncaster Belles, Bright began her time at Chelsea in 2015 and went on to break the Women’s Super League all-time appearance record, originally set by Jordan Nobbs.
She is also Chelsea’s record appearance maker (314), scoring 19 times on the way to winning all eight of the club’s WSL titles to date, with two of those forming part of domestic trebles in 2021 and 2025.
Across a 12-year stay in west London, the club’s longest-serving player, Bright won a total of 20 trophies.
Speaking about the decision, Bright said: “Representing Chelsea over the last 12 years has been everything to me, but I’m now ready to say goodbye to playing football.
“I’ve given all I can, and I never wanted to fight for any other badge. It is now time, and I’m ready to go into a new era. I’m always going to be Chelsea, but just in a different way.”
A club statement confirming the news read: “We thank Millie for her incredible contribution to Chelsea and are delighted to announce she will be staying on at the club as a trustee of our foundation, continuing her passionate work in supporting others, which began while she was representing us on the pitch.”
Bright’s incredible career will be celebrated at Chelsea’s final WSL match of the season against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on May 16.
