England and Chelsea defender Millie Bright has announced her retirement from international football on Monday.
The Chelsea captain withdrew from selection for the European Championship earlier this year, citing mental and physical fatigue, and has now followed that up by calling time on her England career, having had the summer to “reflect” while Sarina Wiegman’s side clinched another continental crown.
The decision follows Bright’s decision to make herself unavailable for selection for the 2025 Euros because she was “not able to give 100% mentally or physically” after a gruelling treble-winning domestic campaign with Chelsea. After the centre-back said she would not be a part of England’s European title defence in Switzerland, she underwent surgery on a knee injury.
Bright’s announcement has come on the eve of Sarina Wiegman naming her squad for England’s friendlies against Brazil and Australia this month.
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Bright said it was the right time because it was “important to make these big decisions when you’ve got a clear mind”. She described the summer as “probably the hardest moment of my life”.
Bright won 88 caps for England after making her debut in 2016 and played a key role in their Women’s European Championship triumph in 2022.
She also captained England to a World Cup final defeat against Spain the following year.
The 32-year-old revealed her decision to retire from the international stage on her podcast “Daly Brightness”, which she co-hosts with former England team-mate Rachel Daly.
Speaking on The Rest is Football: Daly Brightness podcast, the Chelsea centre-back said: “I’ve been weighing this up for a long time. It’s one of those decisions no one can make for you. It’s a feeling and I’m at peace with it.
Having the summer to reflect, fix my knee, and get my head straight really put things into perspective. As you get older, your priorities change. I’ve been craving family time, time with friends, and time for myself.”
“The reality of the last decade wearing the Three Lions has surpassed even my wildest dreams,” the Chelsea defender said.
“It’s been beyond special for me, and I wish it could last forever. However, in football, all good things must come to an end, and with that, I have decided to retire from international football.”
Bright played every game as England won the Euros on home soil in 2022 and captained the side to the 2023 World Cup final in Australia, with Leah Williamson absent through injury.
Wiegman paid tribute to Bright, saying: “Millie will for ever be an England legend for what she has given to her country, and I could never have enough words to praise her impact during my time. Whether she had the armband or not, she is a true leader.
“I know how much respect there is for Millie within the game – not just because she has won so many trophies but because of the way she conducts herself. She has made such a big contribution to English football both on and off the pitch and we all have a lot to thank her for. Even though her playing time with the Lionesses may be over, I know she has so much more to give the game.”
Bright said a contributing factor was that as she watched England battle to a second European title there “wasn’t one part of me that thought I’d made the wrong decision”.
“It felt right,” she said of retiring from England duty. “Physically, I’m at that crossroads – can I be 50% for each, for England and for Chelsea? I want to be all in. To give myself the best chance of doing that and be the best for my club, I probably need to rein it in a little bit. I’m really proud of my England career and just want to say a massive thank you to everyone for your support, especially over the summer. It’s never an easy decision, but it feels like the right one.”
The defender said she wanted her legacy as an England player “to be about being a winner – a difference maker. Not just someone who was there, but someone who grabbed every opportunity with both hands and wanted to make change.”
She added: “I want to be remembered for what I did on the pitch too, someone who’d do anything for anyone, who was reliable, and who gave everything, heart and soul, every single game. But ultimately, I want to be remembered as a true Lioness, someone who represented her country in the right way.”