By David Awopetu
Brazilian midfielder, Willian Borges da Silva, popularly known as Willian, has confirmed he will leave Chelsea after seven ‘wonderful’ years at Stamford Bridge.
Willian joined Chelsea from Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013 and made over 300 appearances for the club, winning two Premier League titles.
The 32-year-old who can also operate as a winger missed Chelsea’s Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich on Saturday with an ankle injury and is now out of contract.
“The time has now come to move on,” Willian wrote in an open letter to Chelsea fans.
“I leave with my head held high, safe in the knowledge that I won things here and always did my best in a Chelsea shirt.”
The industrious midfielder made 339 appearances for the Blues after signing from Russian side, Anzhi Makhachkala, for £30m in 2013, becoming one of the most popular players at Stamford Bridge in the process.
Willian won five major trophies with the club, including two Premier League titles and the Europa League, and won the club’s players’ Player of the Year Award on two occasions.
He was out of contract this summer and had failed to agree a new long-term deal with the club.
“In August 2013 when I received the offer from Chelsea, I was convinced that this was where I had to play,” he said.
“Today I am certain that it was the best of decisions. There were so many happy times, some sad, there were trophies and it was always very intense.”
