Chelsea Women have confirmed the retirement of 32-year-old defender Millie Bright.
The former Doncaster Belles player has made just shy of 300 appearances for the Blues since arriving in 2014 and is calling time on her professional career upon the expiry of her contract as a decorated European Championship winner and World Cup finalist.
In October last year, Bright announced her retirement from international football, ending her nine-year stint as a key fixture of the most successful period in Lionesses history.
Millie Bright hangs up her boots as Chelsea skipper
With 88 caps and six goals to her name, Bright’s international legacy has been cemented by her role in the 2022 European Championship victory where she started every game during England’s historic triumph.
Following injury to Leah Williamson, Bright took the captain’s armband for the 2023 FIFA World Cup, leading the side to their first-ever final in Sydney.
Having also represented Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics, Bright cited the 'physical and mental toll' of the modern game when stepping aside.
The Chelsea skipper has now taken the difficult decision to hang up her boots altogether, despite featuring prominently for the Blues in the Women’s Super League (WSL) this season.
With the team six points and several goals short of league leaders Manchester City, Bright has decided to announce her retirement. There are only two matches of the domestic campaign remaining, after which she will depart Kingsmeadow.
On her watch, Chelsea have won nine WSL titles, six Women’s FA Cups, two League Cups and finished Champions League runners-up in 2021.
Bright is a two-time inductee of the annual FIFA FIFPro Women’s World XI and was awarded an OBE in the 2024 New Year Honours for her services to the women's game.
