Fran Kirby has introduced she’s going to go away Chelsea Girls on the finish of the season after 9 years on the membership.
The 30-year-old ahead will depart the membership on the finish of her contract as their all-time main scorer having netted 115 objectives in 205 appearances since her arrival from Studying in 2015.
Kirby has received a complete of 14 trophies throughout right here embellished spell in west London, together with 5 Girls’s Tremendous League titles, 4 FA Cups and two League Cups.
She can also be a two-time winner of the PFA Girls’s Participant of the 12 months and Soccer Writers’ Girls’s awards and has received 70 caps for England, scoring 19 objectives and serving to them win the Euros in 2022.
Her exit comes as Chelsea put together to embark on a brand new chapter, with Sonia Bompastor set to switch the long-serving Emma Hayes as head coach on the finish of the marketing campaign.
“I all the time wished to win rising up, so coming to a membership that shared that ambition was one thing that I valued,” Kirby advised the membership’s official web site. “That is without doubt one of the essential causes I joined the membership. I consider the membership may assist me try this.
“To go away with the trophies that I’ve received, with the team-mates I’ve performed with – a few of the world’s finest gamers – it has been one of many greatest privileges of my life.
“The assist I’ve had has been unmatched. Once I had my sickness, my accidents, that is once I’ve made some buddies for all times. I’ll always remember that regardless of how dangerous I felt throughout these moments, I all the time felt beloved and supported.
“For me, I used to be only a younger woman who beloved soccer. And it nonetheless is that now. I am a bit older now, however nonetheless somebody who simply likes to play soccer.
“A part of my job is to play effectively, win trophies and soccer video games. If I can try this and encourage younger ladies to be footballers or any type of athlete. That’s sufficient for me.
“Rising up I by no means thought I may influence it a lot. So I am actually proud I’ve been in a position to influence in a Positive means and doing that for a membership like Chelsea is one thing I am actually happy with.
“Hopefully, I go away the membership in a greater place than once I first got here in. For me then, the job is completed.
Kirby has received 70 caps for England Girls
“To have been there from the start at Staines, taking part in in entrance of an incredible crowd there and now to Stamford Bridge. We’re promoting out the Bridge. It has been an unbelievable journey with all of you.
“Thanks for embracing me from day one. Serving to me overcome some actually troublesome instances and likewise sharing some superb instances with me. I’ll always remember the way it felt to play in entrance of all of you.
“I hope I’ve left the membership and the shirt in a spot the place you all will be happy with me.”