Chelsea CONFIRM Thiago Silva's next club

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 7 May 2024 15:31 BST
• 5 min read

Chelsea have confirmed that Thiago Silva will rejoin Fluminense when his contract at Stamford Bridge expires this summer.

Last week, the 39-year-old revealed that he would be leaving the Blues upon the expiration of his deal at the end of June and the west London club have now confirmed that Silva will return to Fluminense.

The former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain defender has spent the past four seasons with Chelsea, winning the Champions League during his debut campaign, and he will leave as a club legend.

READ MORE: Three possible Thiago Silva replacements after Chelsea exit confirmation

A statement on Chelsea’s official club website read: “Thiago Silva will depart after our final game of the Premier League season against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge and re-join Brazilian club Fluminense.

“Chelsea have agreed with Thiago that he can join up early with his new teammates after signing a two-year contract with the Brazilian club.

“Thiago will be allowed to train with Fluminense prior to his registration transferring on July 1.”

READ MORE: Thiago Silva CONFIRMS Chelsea departure with emotional farewell message

Silva spent time in Fluminense’s academy before leaving to join fellow Brazilian club RS Futebol in 2002. After suffering a neat fatal bout of tuberculosis at Dynamo Moscow, Silva returned to Fluminense on loan in 2006.

The deal was subsequently made permanent the following year, before the Brazil legend left the club to join Porto in 2009.

What has Thiago Silva said about his Chelsea exit?

An official announcement regarding Silva’s imminent exit has been expected for several weeks and he confirmed his decision to leave Chelsea via an emotional message to the club’s supporters in late April.

“Chelsea means a lot to me. I came here with the intention of only staying for a year and it ended up being four years. Not just for me but for my family, too,” he told the Chelsea website.

“My sons play for Chelsea so it’s a source of great pride to be a part of the Chelsea family – literally because my sons are here. I hope they can continue their careers here at this victorious club that many players wish to be part of.

“I think in everything I did here over the four years, I always gave my all. But, unfortunately, everything has a start, a middle and an end. That doesn’t mean that this is a definitive end. I hope to leave the door open so that in the near future I can return, albeit in another role here.

“But…it’s an indescribable love. I can only say thank you.

“Obviously, when I started here, it was during the pandemic so there wasn’t any fans in the stadium. But through social media, it became something very special to me and then when the fans started coming back to the stadium and life was getting back to normal, I started to feel a lot of affection and respect for my story and for my start here.

“It is already hard saying goodbye in the most normal of circumstances but when there is a mutual love, it’s even harder. But once a Blue, always a Blue,” he said.

“The way in which I came to the club, with the support of the club, I got to the club as a leader even though I didn’t feel like it having arrived as the new guy. It’s always difficult to integrate but bit by bit I became part of the group and (Frank) Lampard played a big part in that. I am grateful to him for that.

“[It’s been a] dream, definitely a dream. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I could achieve such great things and win one of the best professional titles, the Champions League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

“Goodbyes are for those that leave and don’t come back. I intend on coming back one day…"