Wednesday 19 April 2017 18:12, UK
John Terry has thanked Chelsea's supporters in an open letter, and has called the decision to depart "the toughest of my life."
Chelsea and the 36-year-old defender confirmed on Monday that he will end a 22-year association with the Blues when his contract expires this summer, having won 14 major honours at the club since making his first-team debut in 1998.
Terry will exit Stamford Bridge as the club's most successful ever captain, having won four Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, the Champions League in 2012 and the Europa League a year later.
"It's with overwhelming emotion that earlier this week the club and I announced this will be my last season as a Chelsea player," club captain Terry said.
"This has been the toughest decision of my life for me and my family, but I always envisaged leaving on the right terms, in the right way and at the right time - and that is now.
"I feel I still have regular football in me but understand that opportunities here at Chelsea will be limited, it is therefore time for a new challenge.
"From joining as a schoolboy at 14, to signing my first professional contract at 17 and then making my first-team debut in the same year, to then being part of the transformation and evolution of this great football club, has inspired me to keep striving to be the very best I can be.
"For 22 years this club has been my life, it has given me the platform to compete against the best, break record after record, win trophy after trophy, and as we won more it only increased my desire to work harder and demand more from myself and the team. With this obsession, I've been able to become Chelsea's most successful captain and I'm immensely proud to be mentioned in the same company as Ron Harris, Peter Bonetti, Frank Lampard, John Hollins and many other greats as one of the highest appearance-makers for the club.
Thank you to all my team-mates and managers over the years. To have gone shoulder to shoulder in many a battle with you has been an honour.
"I'll never be able to put into words the love I have for you fans. The support you have always given me, both personally and to the team, is phenomenal. You've been instrumental in my success and have inspired me and the team to win so many trophies.
"Wearing the armband and being your captain has been without doubt one of the proudest achievements of my life. I only hope I've been able to repay you with my commitment and loyalty throughout my career, and I look forward to returning to this great club in some capacity in the future.
"I want to stress that the journey is not yet over. There is a long way to go and we are committed to ending this campaign on a high. I am fully focused on helping the team and manager in every way I can from now until the end of the season."
