Chelsea starlet pens emotional farewell letter after 10 years at the club

Chelsea winger Charly Musonda has written an emotional farewell letter to the club after confirming his departure after a decade in west London, vowing to continue playing despite a serious knee injury.

The Belgian, who moved to Stamford Bridge at the age of 15 in 2012, was regarded as one of the most talented players in Chelsea’s academy and was handed his debut as a teenager by Antonio Conte.

But a PCL injury sustained while on loan at Vitesse has kept Musonda on the sidelines since 2018 and, despite still harbouring hope of playing for Chelsea again, the 25-year-old has taken the difficult decision to leave the club when his contract expires.

Writing a message to fans and confirming his exit, Musonda said: ‘It seems like yesterday I was arriving at Cobham, and that Chelsea football club welcomed me and my family to my new home. It has now been 10 years since that day and today, as the season ends, that journey has come to an end.

‘I had the privilege of being part of, and being able to learn in, such an incredible organisation in world football, and in the process had the opportunity of winning all that was possible at youth level within the club and country playing a part of an important chapter at Cobham – and more importantly doing so while growing as a person.

‘From the ages of 15 until 21, I worked extremely hard to make my professional debut at Chelsea, at a time in which it was extremely difficult to do so, and I will always be thankful for the opportunity to have been able to play at the Bridge wearing the blue shirt, which is never a given or should never be taken for granted, particularly from where I come from.’

He continued: ‘In all honestly, I would be lying if I said that I thought I would be leaving