Chelsea have paid glowing tribute to their departing midfielder Willian.
Willian announced in an open letter to fans on Sunday that the “time has come to move on”.
In a club statement, Chelsea declared on Monday : “Away from the field of play Willian has been a supremely friendly and calm member of the squad for seven seasons, and his big grin will be missed by all at Cobham.
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“In training and in games, he combined Brazilian flair with a hard-working mentality that ensured he was highly valued by each of his Chelsea managers, and rarely out of the team for long, despite stiff competition for places.
“Capable of the extraordinary, a significant contributor to five trophy wins, and a class act on and off the pitch: when Willian saw the light in 2013, he could not have hoped for a more comprehensive vindication of his decision over the next seven years.
“He leaves Chelsea with our best wishes for the future, and with so many wonderful moments etched in our memories.”
