Chelsea star Fran Kirby breaks down in tears as she reveals ‘it’s the right time for something new’

FRAN KIRBY thanked Chelsea fans for “embracing” her from the get-go in an emotional farewell message.

The Blues forward, regarded as being one of the best players of her generation, announced her departure from the club at the end of this season.

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Chelsea Women’s Fran Kirby has announced she will leave the Blues at the end of the season[/caption]

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Kirby tearfully thanked Chelsea fans for ’embracing’ her from the get-go in an emotional farewell message[/caption]

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The forward has been at the Blues for nine years[/caption]

Kirby, 30, whose Chelsea journey began after a 2015 Reading move for a then-undisclosed British record fee, is her team’s all-time leading scorer.

The England ace, who has made more than 200 club appearances, has lifted nine trophies with Emma Hayes’ side.

Her final matches in a Blues shirt will see her face Bristol City at home before an Old Trafford clash with Manchester United.

In a videoed goodbye message, Kirby said: ‘I think obviously the club has grown since I first joined, in terms of fans and engagements.

“To have been there from the beginning at Staines, playing in front of an amazing crowd there and now to Stamford Bridge.

“We’re selling out the Bridge. It’s been an incredible journey with all of you.

“Thank you for embracing me from day one. Helping me overcome some really difficult times and also sharing some amazing times with me. I will never forget how it felt to play in front of all of you.

“I hope I have left the club and the shirt in a place where you all can be proud of me.”

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She added in a tweet: “I think we all know it’s the right time for something new.”

Kirby, who was part of the Chelsea side that reached a Champions League final for the first time in 2021, has won six WSL titles with the team including the Spring Series.

And the forward, who in 2020 recovered from a potentially career-ending heart condition called pericarditis, paid tribute to her team-mates and boss Hayes.

Kirby added: “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 teammates.

“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.”