Chelsea captain confirms summer departure with emotional open letter

Blues captain Magdelena Eriksson confirmed the news she would be leaving the club via a post on her official Twitter account this afternoon.

It had long been rumoured that the Swedish captain would be departing Kingsmeadow this summer alongside Pernille Harder, however, her heartfelt open letter to fans has confirmed the news.

“It is with a heavy heart and so many emotions I announce that my journey as a blue will come to an end” wrote the 29-year-old defender. “First of all I see myself as extremely privileged to have played a part in this great club’s history. When I signed for the club, the ambitions were clear, Emma’s (Hayes) openness with that resonated with my own ambitions. I quickly realised it wasn’t all just talk either,” she added

Eriksson will leave Chelsea as one of their most decorated players of all time having won four Women’s Super League titles, four FA Cups, two Continental Cups and a Community Shield during her six seasons with the club, while she also led the Blues to the final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2021 where the finished as runners-up to Barcelona.

She was awarded the captain’s armband following the departure of Lionesses legend Karen Carney at the end of the 2019/2020 season, making a total of 183 appearances in the royal blue and will depart the club upon the expiry of her contract as a legend.

On the captain’s departure, manager Emma Hayes said: “There are not enough words to describe the impact Magda has had, not just on this football club but on me. She has been a wonderful leader, someone who has helped drive the team and it’s standards to the levels that we’re at.

“Chelsea will always be her club, it will always be her home. She will forever remain a legend of this football club. She goes with my blessing and I wish her the best for her future.”

“Winning was at the heart of everything we did, and that competitiveness was contagious. It is safe to say the winning culture is now part of the Chelsea DNA. I’d like to thank the club, Emma and Paul for believing in me and supporting me from the moment I signed six seasons ago. It was my first time living in a new country. I took a leap of faith and landing straight into the arms of the Chelsea family” she wrote.

She ended the letter by stating “I will miss you all so very much”.

It is widely expected that, along with Harder, the Swede will move to Germany to join Bayern Munich in the summer. Thanks to a 4-0 victory over Leicester City last night though, the pair will have one final opportunity to lift further silverware for the club after the win saw them move two points clear of Manchester United at the top of the WSL with just two games left to play.

Chelsea face Arsenal this coming Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30pm.