Chelsea stalwart confirms next club after contract expiry

Thiago Silva will re-join former club Fluminense when he leaves Chelsea at the end of the season.

The Brazilian defender has made over 150 appearances for the Blues and helped the club win the Champions League, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup. He was also named their player of the year for the 2022/23 season.

A statement from Fluminense reads: "The player will arrive in Rio de Janeiro to join the squad led by coach Fernando Diniz in about a month, after the end of his contract with Chelsea, in England, and complete the procedures for his move.

"The defender will only be able to play in games for the club from 10 July, when the international transfer window will open."

Chelsea will let the former Paris Saint-Germain defender leave early, allowing him to return to Brazil after their final Premier League game of the season at home against Bournemouth.

Reports of Silva's desire to return to Fluminense, where he came through the youth ranks and played two season of Brasileirao football before getting his big break at AC Milan, were rife ahead of his contract expiry at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues are expected to be active in the summer transfer window as they search for a new central defender. Fulham star Tosin Adarabioyo is a mooted target, though Mauricio Pochettino's side face competition from Newcastle for his signature.

The 26-year-old has played in 20 Premier League matches so far this season, scoring twice to help the Cottagers into 13th place with two fixtures remaining.

Chelsea will also hope to call upon Wesley Fofana more often next term. The Frenchman hasn't played at all in 2023/24 due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while other defenders like Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Benoit Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah have missed large chunks of the campaign with fitness problems.

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