Chelsea's Benoit Badiashile has opened up about the void that will be left by Thiago Silva's departure, acknowledging the Brazilian's significant impact at Stamford Bridge.

Silva, who turns 40 this year, has been a stalwart for Chelsea since his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020, clocking up over 150 appearances in four seasons and playing a pivotal role in the club's Champions League triumph in 2021. He is now set to make a sentimental return to Fluminense, the club from which he left for his European journey back in 2009.

The veteran defender, with an impressive tally of over 100 international caps for Brazil, has been a standout performer for Chelsea, even clinching the player of the year accolade for the 2022-23 season amidst a turbulent time for the Blues. Badiashile, who joined Chelsea at the beginning of the same season, didn't hold back in praising Silva's mentorship.

"Thiago is a great player and we already know how great he is," he said about his soon-to-be former teammate. "It will be a great miss for us but we have to continue to work.

"You can see when I play with him I am more confident but I have to try to be the same player without him because he can't be with me throughout my career. He has helped me a lot but I will try to do my best without him."

Silva has expressed his deep affection for Chelsea as he confirmed his departure from the club. Reflecting on a successful four-year spell at Stamford Bridge, he said: "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. Not just for me but for my family, too.

"My sons play for Chelsea so it's a source of great pride to be a 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 wish to be part of.

"I think in everything I did here over the four years, I always gave my all. But, unfortunately, everything has a start, a middle and an end. That doesn't mean that this is a definitive end. I hope to leave the door open so that in the near future I can return, albeit in another role here.

"But...it's an indescribable love. I can only say thank you. Obviously, when I started here, it was during the pandemic so there wasn't any fans in the stadium. But through social media, it became something very special to me and then when the fans started coming back to the stadium and life was getting back to normal, I started to feel a lot of affection and respect for my story and for my start here."

"It is already hard saying goodbye in the most normal of circumstances but when there is a mutual love, it's even harder. But one a Blue, always a Blue."

"The way in which I came to the club, with the support of the club, I got to the club as a leader even though I didn't feel like it having arrived as the new guy. It's always difficult to integrate but bit by bit I became part of the group and (Frank) Lampard played a big part in that. I am grateful to him for that."

"[It's been a] dream, definitely a dream. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I could achieve such great things and win one of the best professional titles, the Champions League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Goodbyes are for those that leave and don't come back. I intend on coming back one day.."

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