Chelsea's ex-England defender Bright retires

Chelsea's ex-England defender Bright retiresImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Millie Bright has been Chelsea's captain since 2023ByEmma SandersBBC Sport women’s football news reporterPublished4 minutes agoChelsea captain Millie Bright has retired from football with immediate effect. The 32-year-old made 294 appearances for the Blues after joining from Doncaster Belles in 2015 and also won 88 caps for England.The defender won eight Women's Super League titles with the Blues - including six in a row between 2020 and 2025 - as well as six FA Cups and four League Cups.But the former England defender has not featured for the Blues since February because of an ankle injury and has decided now is the time to end her career.'Representing Chelsea over the last 12 years has been everything to me, but I'm now ready to say goodbye to playing football," said Bright."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."Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feedMore to follow.Related topicsEngland Women's Football TeamFootballWomen's Super LeagueWomen's FootballMore on this storyGet the latest WSL news on our dedicated page