The 39-year-old Thiago Silva, who has left an indelible mark on the world of football. Even though he is getting older, he still plays an important role at Chelsea. However, he recently announced that he will be leaving the club at the end of the 2023 24 season.

Initially, Chelsea signed Silva only for 1 year, but now it has been 4 years since he is in the club.

So why did Chelsea sign him, for one year ? What was his career at the club, How much impact he had on the club?



for those who don't know who is Silva?

his full name is Thiiago Emiliano daa Silva, born on September 22, 1984, in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, he has played for various clubs including AC Milan, PSG, and currently Chelsea. He has also been a key player for the Brazil national team, participating in multiple Copa América, and FIFA World Cup tournaments. he is recognized for his exceptional defensive skills, discipline, and leadership on the field, and he has achieved numerous accolades throughout his career, including winning the UEFA Champions League in 2021.


why chelsea sign thiago silva?

at 35, he joined Chelsea on a free transfer, after contract expire at PSG in 2020, signing a one-year contract with an option for an additional year. He subsequently signed 12-month extensions, year by year up to 2024

Internationally, Silva has been a mainstay for Brazil throughout the last decade, earning 89 total caps, during his eight years in the French, he won seven Ligue 1 titles.

Chelsea need a leadership and experience at the back, and the player can also mentor the young players aspiring to break into the squad. While the player is not a long-term solution due to his age, he still has a lot of thing to offer in the short term.



Chelsea were searching for defensive reinforcements, and the opportunity to sign the experienced 35-year-old Silva, who had just left PSG, was seen as too good to pass up.

Silva's wealth of experience and leadership qualities. he had captained PSG, AC Milan, and the Brazilian national team, and was viewed as a player who could provide valuable experience, and leadership to Chelsea's squad.

Despite his age, he impressed everyone by his performances. and continued to perform at a high level, helping PSG to reach the 2020 Champions League final.

 Chelsea were familiar with his talents from their previous Champions League meetings with PSG.

Chelsea were able to sign Silva on a free transfer after he left PSG, which was seen as an excellent piece of business


Silva career at Chelsea

he made his debut for the club on  September 2020 6 0 home victory over Barnsley, in the third round of the EFL Cup. He wasted no time making an impact, but three days later, he captained the team, and had his Premier League debut in an exciting 3 3 draw against West Bromwich Albion. As the season progressed, Silva's impact grew. He scored his first goal for Chelsea in a 4 1 win over Sheffield United on 7 November, and added another goal in a 3 0 victory against West Ham on 21 December 2020.

Silva's leadership and defensive skills were instrumental in Chelsea's run to the Champions League final, where they triumphed over Real Madrid in the semi-finals. Unfortunately, Silva's involvement in the final was cut short, as he went off injured in the 39th minute. Nonetheless, he celebrated his first-ever Champions League victory, after Chelsea secured a hard-fought 1 0 win against Manchester City.



Recognizing Silva's importance to the team, in  2021 Chelsea announced that they had extended his contract for another year, keeping him at the club until 2022. Silva's journey with Chelsea continued to flourish as he signed another contract extension in January 2022, until the end of the 22 23 season. In October 2022, Silva reached a significant milestone by making his 100th Champions League appearance, in a 2 0 away win against his former club AC Milan. He further solidified his commitment to the club by extending his contract once again on  February 2023, taking it through the end of the 23 24 season.

On May 2023, silva received a well-deserved accolade as he was named Chelsea's Player of the Year, becoming the first defender to win the award since John Terry in 2006. Silva continued to make history for the club, becoming Chelsea's oldest goalscorer after finding the net against Manchester City in a thrilling 4 4 draw on 12 November 2023.

In 2024, Chelsea announced that Silva would be departing the club, at the end of the season, marking the end of his four-year tenure with Chelsea.

Silva has been linked to various clubs from across Europe as well as Saudi Arabia,  but recent reports say that, instead of going to those clubs, he decided to go back to Fluminense, where he started playing football. This is a big moment in his football story.


His impact on the club.

Silva has been a reliable asset in Chelsea's defense, throughout his four seasons at the club,

he has been of significant importance to Chelsea FC during his time at the club. he has made 151 appearances, winning major titles like the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.

His leadership, defensive prowess, and discipline have made him a key figure, both on and off the field, earning praise from managers and teammates alike.



Silva's impact goes beyond his playing abilities; he has been a role model and inspiration to younger players, with his professionalism and dedication standing out throughout his tenure at Chelsea.

His departure marks the end of an era at Chelsea, but Silva's legacy as a respected and accomplished defender will endure, with hopes for his return to the club in a different role in the future.