Former Chelsea wonderkid Charly Musonda retires at age 28

Charly Musonda, former Chelsea academy prospect, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 28.

The player who represented Belgium from U-15 to U-21 level — spent a decade with Chelsea after joining from Anderlecht in 2012.

During his Chelsea career, Musonda made just seven appearances across all competitions, with loan spells at:

• Real Betis
• Vitesse
• Celtic

“This is a big announcement and it’s not easy, but something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. After reflecting on my experiences and who I am, I want to live with purpose to inspire others,” Musonda revealed on the Rising Ballers podcast.

After permanently leaving Chelsea last year, his career continued at Levante and lastly at Cypriot club Anorthosis. His departure from London took a heavy mental toll, especially following recovery from a serious knee injury that kept him sidelined for two years.

“The exit killed me, it killed me mentally, it was the worst thing,” he added while reflecting on his final period at Chelsea.

His last encounter with former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel in the parking area — marked the end of his time at the London club, despite still hoping to return to the first team.