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Tom Hamilton, Senior Writer
England star Fran Kirby announced on Saturday she will leave Chelsea at the end of the season after nine years at the club.
Kirby, 30, will depart Chelsea as their all-time leading goal scorer. She has been integral to their remarkable success under Emma Hayes and with her contract up in June, she has decided to leave the club for a fresh challenge.
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At Chelsea she won five WSL titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups. She was also part of the Chelsea side that reached the final of the Champions League in 2021 where they lost to Barcelona.
She was named PFA Women’s Player of the Year and the Football Writers’ Women’s Footballer of the Year in both 2018 and 2021. With England, Kirby has won 70 caps, scored 19 goals, and is an integral part of the squad that won the Euros in 2022.
Kirby’s departure comes as Chelsea embark on a new era under incoming coach Sonia Bompastor. She will leave Chelsea along with other stalwarts Ann-Katrin Berger — who has joined Gotham FC — and Maren Mjelde.