Veteran defender Thiago Silva has officially announced his impending exit from Chelsea after a successful four-year tenure at Stamford Bridge. However, a statement released by the club on Monday hinted at the possibility of the Brazilian icon making a comeback in the future, as he expressed, "Goodbyes are for those that leave and don’t come back. I intend on coming back one day."

Since joining on a free transfer in August 2020, Thiago Silva has been a commanding presence for the Blues, amassing 151 appearances and clinching several prestigious titles, including the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.

In a heartfelt message, the 39-year-old reflected on his Chelsea journey, saying, "Chelsea means a lot to me. I came here intending to only stay for a year and it ended up being four years. Not just for me but for my family, too."

His bond with the club goes beyond the pitch, with his sons currently part of Chelsea’s youth setup. "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," he remarked.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to represent the West London club, Silva emphasized, "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."

Despite the mixed emotions surrounding his departure, Silva's affection for Chelsea and its fans is palpable. "It’s an indescribable love. I can only say thank you. When I started here, it was during the pandemic so there weren’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," he shared.

Reflecting on his remarkable achievement of winning the Champions League with the club, Thiago Silva said, "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."