Chelsea will not block Thiago Silva exit

• Chelsea defender Thiago Silva may leave the club this summer
• Reports suggest he wants to return to former club Fluminense in Brazil
• Chelsea would unlikely stand in his way if he wants to cancel his contract
• Silva is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of his generation

Chelsea defender Thiago Silva could be set to leave the club this summer and return to his former club Fluminense, according to reports from The Telegraph.

The 38-year-old Brazilian has made 114 appearances for the Blues since joining from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020, but reports suggest he is keen to cancel his contract.

Thiago Silva current deal

Silva’s current deal at Stamford Bridge runs until 2024, but it is understood that Chelsea would be unlikely to stand in his way if he expresses a desire to leave. The centre-back has a strong emotional connection with Fluminense, where he won a Copa do Brasil in 2007, and it is believed he would relish the chance to end his career with the Rio de Janeiro-based club.

Silva is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of his generation, known for his defensive prowess, discipline, and leadership on the pitch. He began his senior club career in 2002 playing as a midfielder for RS Futebol, before transitioning to a defensive position while at Juventude. He then signed with Porto in 2004, at age 19, and moved to Dynamo Moscow on loan, where he was hospitalized with a near-fatal bout of tuberculosis.

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After recovering, Silva joined Fluminense, where he won the Copa do Brasil in 2007, before moving to AC Milan in 2009 for a reported fee of €8 million. In 2012, he signed for PSG in a transfer worth up to €42 million, becoming the most expensive defender ever at the time. At PSG, Silva won seven Ligue 1 titles, six Coupes de la Ligue, five Coupes de France, and reached the 2020 UEFA Champions League Final. He signed for Chelsea on a free transfer in 2020, and won the UEFA Champions League in his first season at the club.

Thiago Silva a key player

Silva has also been a key player for the Brazilian national team, earning over 110 caps and appearing in eight major tournaments. He won a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics and a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics, and later served as captain as Brazil won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and finished fourth at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Silva also helped Brazil win the 2019 Copa América.