English Football

Eniola Aluko to leave Chelsea end of season

Published

6 years ago

May 16, 2018

Chronicle Editor

Eniola Aluko will leave Chelsea at the end of the season

Chelsea Ladies forward Eniola Aluko will leave the Women’s Super League champions when the season finishes.

The 31-year-old, capped 102 times by England, announced she would be departing with a “heavy heart”.

Aluko was on the bench as the Blues won the title at Bristol City on Tuesday, and will leave after their campaign ends at Liverpool Ladies on Sunday.

“I couldn’t dream of a better ending,” said Aluko, who joined Chelsea in 2012, on Twitter.

Another League & FA Cup double. 2015 was a dream come true to do it again I'm beyond words. After 5 yrs & 150+ appearances it's with a heavy heart I confirm I'll be leaving @chelseafc I couldn't dream of a better ending. To my teammates who I adore, the club and fans THANKYOU💙 pic.twitter.com/FYjllPp9dX
— Eniola Aluko (@EniAlu) May 16, 2018

It is not confirmed where Aluko will be heading, although she held talks with Paris St-Germain and one other overseas club in January.

READ: David Moyes departs West Ham after six months in charge

Aluko has not played for England since 2016 and was involved in a discrimination case against former boss Mark Sampson last year.

After six years with the Blues, @EniAlu will leave us at the end of the season.
Thank you for everything, Eni! 💙 pic.twitter.com/SKnwCYkoeP
— Chelsea Ladies FC (@ChelseaLFC) May 16, 2018

In a statement on its website, Chelsea described Aluko as one of the greats in its Ladies team’s history. “Aluko, whose attacking flair and pace has been a feature of the Blues’ forward play either centrally or out wide, first joined Chelsea in 2007 before heading to the US Women’s Professional League in 2008.

“She returned to English football with Birmingham Ladies and was successful against Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

“Shortly after, in December 2012, Emma Hayes brought her back to London and she struck six domestic goals that season and one in the International Women’s Club Championship as we reached the final in Tokyo.