ANKARA

Chelsea's Brazilian defender Thiago Silva announced on Monday that he would be leaving the English Premier League side at the end of the season.

In a video published on the London club's Instagram account, a teary-eyed Silva said he intended to return to the Blues "one day."

"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," said 39-year-old Silva.

"I think 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," he added.

Silva, who joined Chelsea from French Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in August 2020, won seven league titles with his former club.

During his time with Chelsea, he helped bag the 2021 UEFA Champions League title, along with the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup.

In earlier years, he had won the 2011 Italian Serie A title while playing for AC Milan.

The Brazilian, who netted seven goals in 113 appearances for his country's national team, also clinched the 2019 Copa America.