Former Chelsea wonderkid Musonda retires at 28

Former Chelsea wonderkid Charly Musonda has retired astatine the property of conscionable 28.

Musonda, who represented Belgium from Under-15 to Under-21 level, astir precocious played for Cypriot nine Anorthosis from 2023 to 2024.

He joined the Chelsea academy from Belgian broadside Anderlecht successful 2012 and was tipped for large things, but contempt being contracted to Chelsea for 10 years, helium made conscionable 7 appearances successful each competitions.

Speaking connected the Rising Ballers podcast, Musonda, who went connected indebtedness to Real Betis, Vitesse and Celtic portion astatine Chelsea, said: "I've got a large announcement today. It's not casual but it's thing I've been reasoning astir for a agelong time.

"After reflecting connected my experiences and who I am, I've realised I privation to unrecorded with intent to animate and motivate others."

The 28-year-old near Chelsea permanently successful 2022, signing for past Spanish 2nd part broadside Levante earlier moving to Cyprus a twelvemonth later.

Having near London though, Musonda struggled mentally aft moving to retrieve from injury.

"The exit killed me, it killed maine mentally, it was the worst thing," helium added.

Musonda was grooming with the reserves, having recovered from a superior genu wounded that kept him retired for 2 years, erstwhile helium had a accidental gathering with past Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel successful a car park.

"It was my archetypal clip gathering him, helium said, "I'm looking guardant to seeing you backmost and I said, "Don't worry, I'll beryllium backmost for preseason.

"Because successful my mind, it was ever preseason and I'd beryllium backmost with the archetypal squad and we'd spot from there, truthful I came backmost for pre-season and that's wherever things got tricky -- that was the extremity of my clip astatine Chelsea."