Former Chelsea academy standout Charly Musonda has revealed his decision to retire from professional football at the age of 28, three years after departing Stamford Bridge. The Belgian winger, who joined Chelsea’s youth ranks from Anderlecht in 2012, made a handful of senior appearances but ultimately saw his promising career curtailed by a series of setbacks.
Musonda broke into Chelsea’s first team in 2017, going on to feature seven times in senior competitions amid high expectations that he might follow in the footsteps of compatriot Eden Hazard. However, successive loan spells at Real Betis, Celtic and Vitesse Arnhem failed to reignite his trajectory. When his contract expired in 2022, Musonda left Chelsea on a free transfer, with brief stints at Levante and Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta also proving short‑lived.
Speaking candidly on the Rising Ballers podcast, Musonda described the emotional toll of his exit from Chelsea as the beginning of a challenging period. “The exit killed me. It killed me mentally. It was the worst thing,” he admitted. Recounting his return to training with Chelsea’s reserves during the COVID‑19 interrupted season, he recalled a chance encounter with then‑manager Thomas Tuchel. “He said, ‘How are you feeling? How are things going?’ … I said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be back for pre‑season.’” Yet, as Musonda explains, those preparations ultimately marked the close of his time in West London: “That was the end of my time at Chelsea.”
Reflecting on his decision to hang up his boots, Musonda emphasized a desire to pursue a more purposeful path off the pitch. “After reflecting on my experiences and who I am, I’ve realised I want to live with purpose to inspire and motivate others,” he said, concluding a career that, despite yielding only 63 professional appearances, leaves him ready to embark on new challenges.
