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Chelsea Legend Millie Bright Retires After 12 Trophy-laden Seasons

4/29/2026

Summary

Bright Retires

Millie Bright announced her retirement at 32 after 12 seasons with Chelsea.
She leaves as Chelsea’s longest-serving player with 314 appearances, 216 WSL games and 20 trophies.
She earned 88 England caps, captained the 2023 World Cup final and received an OBE in 2024.
Chelsea will honor her before the final match against Manchester United on 16 May.
She will become a club ambassador and trustee of the Chelsea Foundation.

Summary

Bright Quits

She left England’s Euro 2025 squad because she could not give 100 percent physically and mentally.
She has spoken out about social-media abuse and mental-health pressures that contributed to her retirement.
An ankle injury on 8 February kept her out of the squad, reinforcing the link between physical setbacks and her mental state.
She will serve as an ambassador and trustee for the Chelsea Foundation to promote player-welfare and mental-health initiatives.

Summary

Bright Departs

Chelsea Women sit six points behind Manchester City in the WSL season and will travel to Leicester City on Sunday before FA Cup semi-final on 10 May.
Bright said she has played injured for six years, cites fatigue as retirement factor and criticises football’s strict regimen, demanding control over her life.
She made 14 league appearances this season but has not played since a February ankle injury, leaving a defensive gap.

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Bright Retires

Millie Bright announced her retirement at 32 after 12 seasons with Chelsea.
She leaves as Chelsea’s longest-serving player with 314 appearances, 216 WSL games and 20 trophies.
She earned 88 England caps, captained the 2023 World Cup final and received an OBE in 2024.
Chelsea will honor her before the final match against Manchester United on 16 May.
She will become a club ambassador and trustee of the Chelsea Foundation.

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