Thiago Silva ‘agrees to re-join Fluminense on two-year deal’ as the Brazilian side ‘beat competition from England and Saudi Arabia’ – after Chelsea defender announced he will leave at the end of the season

Thiago Silva has reportedly signed a two-year contract to rejoin Brazilian club Fluminense.

The defender will join his new club in July and make a presentation at the club’s iconic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the venue of the 2014 World Cup final.

Silva, 39, announced he will leave the Blues this summer at the end of his contract after four years at Stamford Bridge.

He played for Fluminense between 2007 and 2009 before joining AC Milan and winning the Copa do Brasil.

His deal until 2026 has been agreed but will only be announced after the contract is formally signed out of respect for Chelsea, as reported by the Brazilian outlet Globo.

Silva, 39, has confirmed he will leave Chelsea at the end of the current season

The outlet claims Fluminense has beaten off competition from European and Saudi Arabian clubs to negotiate his return.

He is out of contract with Chelsea but could be allowed to travel to Brazil to seal the deal.

Legal and communications representatives from the Brazilian giants have already spoken to Silva’s camp in London.

Earlier this week it was reported that three unnamed London clubs had made bids for the legend, who turns 40 in September.

However, Fluminense has had extensive contact with Silva, with the club’s chairman reportedly calling him every week for months.

There is a good chance that Silva has already played his last game for Chelsea after suffering another groin injury in the 2-2 draw at Aston Villa in April.

That would be a shame for Silva, who won the Champions League with the club in 2021 after being released in 2019.

The Brazilian legend was part of the Chelsea team that won the Champions League and the Club World Cup

Silva made the announcement in an emotional video released on the club’s social media accounts on Monday

Originally planning to stay there for a year, he fell in love with the club and has happily settled in London with his wife Belle Silva and his family.

‘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,” he said via Chelsea’s website. ‘Not only for me, but also for my family.

“My sons play for Chelsea, so it is a source of great pride to be 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 want to be part of.

“I think everything I’ve done here over the last four years, I’ve always given it my all. But unfortunately everything has a beginning, a middle and an end. That doesn’t mean this is a final ending. I hope to leave the door open for me to return in the near future, albeit in a different role here.”

Chelsea fan group We Are The Shed are preparing a special display for the final home game of the season – against Bournemouth on May 19 – and Silva continued: ‘It’s already difficult to say goodbye in the most normal circumstances, but when there is a mutual love, it’s even harder. But one is blue, always blue.

‘The way I came into the club, with the support of the club, I came into the club as a leader, even though I didn’t feel like it had arrived as a newcomer. It’s always difficult to integrate, but little by little I became part of the group and (Frank) Lampard played a big role in that. I am grateful to him for that.

‘[It’s been a] dream, definitely a dream. Even in my wildest dreams, I never thought I could achieve such great things and win one of the best professional titles, the Champions League, with one of the biggest clubs in the world.

‘Farewell is for those who go away and don’t come back. I plan to come back one day.”

More to follow.