Chelsea membership captain and former England worldwide Millie Shiny has retired from soccer with speedy impact.
The 32-year-old referred to as time on her worldwide profession with England again in 2025 and has now made the choice to finish her taking part in profession altogether, saying she is “ready to say goodbye to football”.
Signed from Doncaster Belles, Shiny started her time at Chelsea in 2015 and went on to interrupt the Ladies’s Tremendous League all-time look report, initially set by Jordan Nobbs.
She can be Chelsea’s report look maker (314), scoring 19 instances on the best way to profitable all eight of the membership’s WSL titles thus far, with two of these forming a part of home trebles in 2021 and 2025.
Throughout a 12-year keep in west London, the membership’s longest-serving participant, Shiny gained a complete of 20 trophies.
Millie Shiny has referred to as time on her 12-year Chelsea profession
Talking in regards to the resolution, Shiny mentioned: “Representing Chelsea during the last 12 years has been the whole lot to me, however I am now able to say goodbye to taking part in soccer.
“I’ve given all I can, and I never wanted to fight for any other badge. It is now time, and I’m ready to go into a new era. I’m always going to be Chelsea, but just in a different way.”
A membership assertion confirming the information learn: “We thank Millie for her incredible contribution to Chelsea and are delighted to announce she will be staying on at the club as a trustee of our foundation, continuing her passionate work in supporting others, which began while she was representing us on the pitch.”
One of many key members of England’s win at Euro 2022 on dwelling soil, she went on to captain the Lionesses to the World Cup closing the next yr, amassing 88 caps in complete, and was awarded an OBE acknowledging her management and wider affect on the sport.
Shiny’s unbelievable profession will probably be celebrated at Chelsea’s closing WSL match of the season in opposition to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Might 16.
Why is Shiny retiring now?
Shiny gained a complete of 20 trophies with Chelsea and was a European champion with England
Sky Sports activities Anton Toloui:
“Millie retiring doesn’t come as a huge surprise given she has been playing through injury for the past few seasons. The physical and mental toll of football at the highest level has been weighing on her for some time.
“She clearly determined to prioritise relaxation and recuperation as a substitute of taking part in with England on the Euros final summer time. Her precedence was to attempt to get match match to be able to compete for Chelsea, nevertheless, because the season has gone on accidents and fatigue have caught up.
“Regardless, Bright will go down as one of England’s greatest ever centre-backs. She stepped up as captain when Leah Williamson was ruled out of the World Cup in 2023 and carried them through to the final. She was also a leader during a difficult off-field period with England, when negotiations over pay and standards were being discussed with the FA and unions.
“Her 12 years at Chelsea will go down as legendary. She’s determined to stroll away from the membership to commit extra time to family and friends and appears ahead to a life away from soccer for now. She’s confronted challenges and been open about how these have affected her psychological well being.
“Her uncompromising style on the pitch will go down in England folklore and she’s one of the true greats of the professional era.”
Shiny centrepiece of unprecedented success at Chelsea
Sky Sports activities’ Laura Hunter:
Given Millie Shiny has at all times publicly maintained that she by no means needed to symbolize one other membership after Chelsea, there is not an excessive amount of marvel to the timing of this announcement, albeit 32 feels younger for a modern-day footballer.
Saying that, there aren’t too many who’ve accomplished extra minutes and performed in additional high-profile video games than Shiny. For membership and nation, Shiny will probably be remembered and celebrated as a stalwart. She has carried out her time.
This season has seen her minutes lowered by a mix of damage and kind, solely managing 14 WSL begins. Chelsea, in the meantime, are coming into a brand new section of evolution underneath Sonia Bompastor and focusing on a unique profile of taking part in squad; one that’s youthful and extra dynamic.
Shiny will not have many regrets, however one could be the Champions League title that has evaded her and Chelsea throughout the years. Domestically, she gained the whole lot and has been the centrepiece of success throughout a interval of one-club domination that’s unlikely to ever be replicated.
For that, and her management and authority over the course, she ought to go away a legacy that transcends far past her time as a participant.
