Chelsea star admits he faces challenge without Thiago Silva as defender's new club confirmed

Thiago Silva's summer exit has been confirmed, with the Brazil international defender set to leave Stamford Bridge after more than 150 appearances in Chelsea colours

Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile has admitted Thiago Silva will be a "great miss" when the Brazilian leaves Stamford Bridge.

Silva, 39, joined Chelsea from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020 and has played more than 150 times across four seasons with the club. He was part of the squad which won the Champions League under Thomas Tuchel in 2021, but will return to his homeland at the end of the current campaign.

The Brazil international, who has more than 100 caps for his country, left Fluminense for AC Milan in 2009. After 15 years in Europe, he will rejoin the Rio de Janeiro-based club at the start of July.

Silva was named Chelsea's player of the year for the 2022-23 season, having provided some quality amid a difficult season for the Blues. And Badiashile, who joined at the start of that campaign, has laid bare his team-mate's influence.

"Thiago is a great player and we already know how great he is," Badiashile said of his team-mate. "It will be a great miss for us but we have to continue to work.

"You can see when I play with him I am more confident but I have to try to be the same player without him because he can’t be without me throughout my career. He has helped me a lot but I will try to do my best without him."

After a spell on the sidelines, Silva returned to Chelsea's starting line-up in recent weeks. He was given a warm reception ahead of Sunday's 5-0 victory against West Ham, where he played a part in the third goal.

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Image: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Silva confirmed his departure in a heartfelt statement at the end of April. "Chelsea means a lot to me. I came here with the intention of only staying for a year and it ended up being four years. Not just for me but for my family, too," he began.

“My sons play for Chelsea so it’s a source of great pride to be a part of the Chelsea family – literally because my sons are here. I hope they can continue their careers here at this victorious club that many players wish to be part of.

“I think in everything I did here over the four years, I always gave my all. But, unfortunately, everything has a start, a middle and an end. That doesn’t mean that this is a definitive end. I hope to leave the door open so that in the near future I can return, albeit in another role here.

“But…it’s an indescribable love. I can only say thank you. Obviously, when I started here, it was during the pandemic so there wasn’t any fans in the stadium. But through social media, it became something very special to me and then when the fans started coming back to the stadium and life was getting back to normal, I started to feel a lot of affection and respect for my story and for my start here.

Image: JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images) JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images)

“It is already hard saying goodbye in the most normal of circumstances but when there is a mutual love, it’s even harder. But one a Blue, always a Blue.

“The way in which I came to the club, with the support of the club, I got to the club as a leader even though I didn’t feel like it having arrived as the new guy. It’s always difficult to integrate but bit by bit I became part of the group and (Frank) Lampard played a big part in that. I am grateful to him for that.

“[It’s been a] dream, definitely a dream. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I could achieve such great things and win one of the best professional titles, the Champions League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Goodbyes are for those that leave and don’t come back. I intend on coming back one day...”

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