Forward Kirby to leave Chelsea at end of season

Fran Kirby's Chelsea contract finishes at the end of the season

England forward Fran Kirby will leave Chelsea at the end of the season when her contract expires after a trophy-laden nine years with the reigning Women's Super League champions.

Kirby, 30, is the club's leading goalscorer in the modern era, with 115 goals in 205 appearances.

She has helped Chelsea win 15 trophies since joining from Reading in 2015, including six Women’s Super League titles, five FA Cups and two League Cups.

"To leave with the trophies that I have won, with the team-mates I’ve played with - some of the world’s best players - it has been one of the biggest privileges of my life," Kirby said in an emotional video message to supporters.

"Part of my job is to play well, win trophies and football games. If I can do that and inspire young girls to be footballers or any form of athlete, that is enough for me.

"Growing up I never thought I could impact it so much. So I’m really proud I have been able to impact in a positive way and doing that for a club like Chelsea is something I’m really proud of."

Kirby joined Emma Hayes’ Chelsea after playing an integral role for England in their third-place finish at the 2015 World Cup in Canada.

She has gone on to score 19 goals in 70 appearances for England as well as earn a host of personal accolades at club level.

In the 2017-18 season, she won the Football Writers’ Association first Women’s Footballer of the Year award.

That year Kirby also picked up the PFA Footballer of the Year award, as well as Chelsea’s Women’s Player and Players’ Player of the Year after scoring 25 goals in all competitions.

She once again scooped the club, WSL and PFA awards in the 2020-21 season, and was part of the England squad that lifted the European Championship at Wembley in 2022.

Kirby scored nine goals in 16 appearances as Chelsea marched to a fourth consecutive WSL title and third successive FA Cup triumph last year, but suffered a season-ending knee injury in May and missed the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

'The support I've had has been unmatched'

As well as battling back from a career-threatening knee injury, Kirby has also suffered with illness during her time at Chelsea.

In 2020, she admitted contemplating quitting football after being diagnosed with pericarditis - an inflammation of the fluid-filled sac around the heart.

She has also spoken openly about body image and the impact of abuse on social media.

“It’s interesting - I can sit here and say I’ve had the most amazing times as a Chelsea player, but I’ve also had some of the hardest times of my life. Not just in my football career.

“Always for me when I’ve gone through something like that, I’ve wanted to come back in a way that people are proud of. They can see that no matter what happens, I’m always going to get back up and try and fight for my team-mates.

“The support I’ve had has been unmatched. When I had my illness, my injuries, that’s when I’ve made some friends for life. I will never forget that no matter how bad I felt during those moments, I always felt loved and supported.”

Kirby’s departure from Chelsea, which comes at the end of her contract, coincides with Hayes' decision to leave as manager.

Hayes announced in November that she would be taking charge of the United States women's national team at the end of the current campaign.

At that point the club had the chance of completing a historic quadruple, but they have since lost to Arsenal in the final of the League Cup and were eliminated from both the FA Cup and the Champions League at the last-four stage.

Hayes conceded the WSL title after their defeat by Liverpool, which left them six points behind leaders Manchester City, albeit with a game in hand, but only three games remaining.

Despite potentially missing out on a fifth consecutive WSL title, Chelsea captain and England team-mate Millie Bright said on social media that Kirby was “a true Chelsea legend".

"You’re leaving the club and shirt in a better place. We will miss you girl, go shine,” Bright added on X.