Chelsea captain Millie Bright revealed she had been “playing injured for the last six years” as she announced her retirement from football.
The former England defender, 32, began her career with Doncaster Belles before joining the Blues in 2015 and, during 12 years in west London, she has made 314 appearances and lifted 20 trophies with the club.
Bright’s retirement comes after she called time on her international career in October 2025, finishing with 88 caps for England, having won the European Championship on home soil in 2022 before captaining the Lionesses to the World Cup final the following year.
Millie Bright has today announced her retirement from professional football, bringing an extraordinary Chelsea playing career to a close.
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) April 29, 2026
Everyone at Chelsea would like to thank Millie for her incredible commitment and dedication to the club over the last 12 years. Her legacy… pic.twitter.com/mikgdm5jVs
She was not a part of the squad that won Euro 2025, withdrawing to focus on her physical and mental health.
“I think in life we have to make decisions and I think in football we’re always given the answers, like we’re always told where to be, what to eat, what time to come to training and I think I’m at a stage where I’m ready to take control of my life,” Bright said in a video posted on the official Chelsea Women X account.
“I think no one can tell you what’s right in this moment or when the time is right, but for me I’m ready to hang up my boots.
“I’m not going anywhere, don’t panic, there’s more to come. I think you lot know better than anyone that I’m Chelsea through and through and I always said I’d retire at this club. I can’t ever represent another team.
“I’ve given everything on and off the pitch for the badge and I’m so proud to have done that for over a decade now.
“It’s time. I’ve been playing injured for the last six years and I’m tired. I’m just a human, you all know I speak about that a lot.
“I’m ready to venture off into life and to do bigger things with the club and to still be a part of that is really special to me.
“You might be losing me on the pitch, but you’re certainly not losing me as being a part of Chelsea.”
Bright will take up a new role as club ambassador as well as staying on as a trustee of the club’s foundation.
She ends her career as Chelsea’s longest-serving player and holds the Women’s Super League appearance record with 216 games after surpassing Jordan Nobbs’ record of 210 during last November’s draw against Liverpool.
Congratulations on an amazing career, Millie ❤️
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) April 29, 2026
She has won eight WSL crowns with Chelsea, along with six FA Cups and four League Cups, and was part of the Blues’ domestic treble-winning seasons in 2021 and 2025.
This season, Bright has made 14 WSL appearances but has not featured for the team since coming off with an ankle injury during a clash with Tottenham at the start of February.
Chelsea are six points behind league leaders Manchester City with two more games to go and the club confirmed a tribute would be paid to Bright during their final match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on May 16.
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