Defender, Magdalena Eriksson will leave Chelsea on a free transfer at the end of 2022-23 season.
Eriksson first arrived at Chelsea from Linkopings in July 2017 and has since scored 11 goals in 149 appearances, whilst she also helped the Blues to 11 titles across the following four competitions;
- Women’s Super League – 2017-18, 2019-2020, 2020-2021 & 2021-2022
- Women’s FA Cup – 2017-18, 2020-21, 2021-22 & 2022-23
- Women’s League Cup – 2019-20 & 2020-21
- Women’s FA Community Shield – 2020
Addressing Eriksson’s decision to leave the club, manager – Emma Hayes commented: “There are not enough words to describe the impact Magda has had, not just on this football club but on me.
“She has been a wonderful leader, someone who has helped drive the team and it’s standards to the levels that we’re at.
“Chelsea will always be her club, it will always be her home. She will forever remain a legend of this football club. She goes with my blessing and I wish her the best for her future.”
Chelsea also issued the following statement paying tribute to the Swedish defender, as they commented: “Everyone at Chelsea thanks Magda for the incredible service she has given to the club and wishes her every success for the next stage of her career.
“We hope you will join us in giving Magda a proper Kingsmeadow send off at our final home league fixture against Arsenal on Sunday.”
Eriksson isn’t only player set to leave Chelsea this summer as her partner, Pernille Harder will also leave the club, having scored 44 goals in 79 appearances, during which she helped the team to two WSL titles, plus three FA Cup triumphs and one Women’s League Cup.
Paying tribute to Harder, Hayes said: “Pernille is one of the best attacking players in the world and you see all of them qualities day in, day out. She has always been so driven to succeed, to get to the top and to help the team win trophies.
“Although she’s been missed with injury this season, we’ve seen especially in the last few games what qualities she has. I want to place on record my thanks for her brilliant contributions to the team’s success the past few years and I wish her the best for the future.”
‘heavy heart and so many emotions….’
Eriksson issued an open letter to club supporters in which she admitted that she would be leaving ‘with a heavy heart and so many emotions’, but revealed that playing for the Blues is a ‘extremely privileged’ honour.
Here is Eriksson’s letter to Chelsea fans in full below.
Dear Chelsea family,
It’s with a heavy heart and so many emotions I announce that my journey as a Blue will come to an end.
First of all, I see myself as extremely privileged to have played a part in this great club’s history.
When I signed for the club the ambitions were clear, Emma’s openness with that really resonated with my own ambitions. I quickly realised it wasn’t just all talk either. Winning was at the heart of everything we did, and that competitiveness was contagious. Six seasons, four WSL titles, four FA cup trophies, two Continental Cup trophies, one community shield later, it’s safe to say that the winning culture is now part of the Chelsea DNA.
I’d like to thank the club, Emma and Paul for believing in me and supporting me from the moment I signed six seasons ago. It was my first time living in a new country, I took a leap of faith and landed straight into the arms of the Chelsea family.
I’d like to thank my team-mates, current and old ones. Thank you for all the good times, all the competitiveness, all the support and all the love. You are a bunch of winners, a great group of people who truly knows what it takes. Keep looking out for each other and have each other’s backs.
I’ve deliberately saved the best for last. My biggest thank you goes to the unbelievable Chelsea fans. I felt your power on my debut game at Kingsmeadow and you’ve kept growing in numbers and strength ever since.
Your relentless support, up and down the country and all across Europe, has played such a huge part in the success of the club. You will always have a special place in my heart, a place that will forever remain blue.
I want to wish everyone at the club the best of luck for the future. It’s been one heck of a journey, and I will carry the memories we’ve created together for the rest of my life.
I will miss you all so very much.
Yours sincerely,
Magda
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