Millie Bright has ended her playing career with immediate effect, according to Chelsea. The 32-year-old defender cited a long-term knee injury as the reason for the decision. She made 245 appearances for the club and helped the team secure 15 major trophies during her 11-year tenure in West London.
Bright also earned 82 caps for England and captained the side to the 2023 World Cup final. She previously played an integral role in the Lionesses team that won the European Championship in 2022. The centre-back joined Chelsea from Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2014 and became the club captain following the departure of Magdalena Eriksson in 2023.
She leaves the game as one of the most decorated players in the history of the Women's Super League, per Sky Sports. Chelsea confirmed that Bright will remain with the squad in a non-playing capacity for the remainder of the current campaign. The club has not yet named a permanent successor for the captaincy, according to The Guardian.
