Millie Bright leaves Lionesses in a better place as she hands Chelsea's Champions League quest a huge boost with England retirement decision

Oftentimes, when a top-quality and experienced player, like Bright is, retires from international duty while clearly still having plenty to give, it's a real blow for their national team. Yet, while the 32-year-old's absence isn't necessarily positive for England, it's negative impact is also limited.

That's not meant as a slight on Bright. She's come up big for the Lionesses time after time in a nine-year international career, starring in their Euro 2022 triumph and captaining the side to the 2023 Women's World Cup final. It's not like her best days were behind her or anything, either. Indeed, it was only earlier this year that she put on an immense performance at Wembley to help England defeat Spain. She is a Lionesses legend and deserves to be remembered as such.

"I'm just really grateful that I've been just a little part of her journey and grateful that she's been part of my team, because she has had a massive influence on and off the pitch," Wiegman said on Tuesday. "She's still a very good player, so I want her in the squad, but I totally respect and understand the decision she makes for life."

However, unlike back in May when Mary Earps stunned the sport by announcing her England retirement, meaning Wiegman only had Hannah Hampton as a capped goalkeeper going into Euro 2025, Bright really does leave the squad in a good place as she ceases to be an option in that centre-back position. In fact, it's one of the deepest areas of the entire team.

Leah Williamson and Alex Greenwood might be the pair that most expect to be first-choice for the foreseeable future, once the former is back from her injury of course, but there are a lot of good options behind them, too. While Jess Carter struggled playing out of position at Euro 2025, let's not forget how immense she was at the 2023 Women's World Cup; Esme Morgan has emerged as a favourite of Wiegman's in recent times, with the manager clearly having a lot of belief in the quality and potential of the 24-year-old; Lotte Wubben-Moy may only have 13 caps to her name but she has been included in the squad for all of England's last three major tournaments, with Bright's departure maybe opening a door for more opportunities; and then there is Maya Le Tissier, who has been one of the best centre-backs in the Women's Super League.

Those are just the options that were in the squad for Euro 2025. That's not even including Millie Turner, the Manchester United star who is currently sidelined with injury; Lucy Parker, who has had her fair share of call-ups without winning a cap yet; or young up-and-comers such as 19-year-old Katie Reid, who was called up by Wiegman for the first time on Tuesday after impressing as a regular starter for Arsenal this season. It's fair to say Bright hasn't left England in the lurch with her decision, especially two years out from a World Cup.

It wasn't a huge shock to hear the news in general, either. Bright has been a key figure for club and country over the years and, in recent times, it has clearly taken its toll on her. In the 2022-23 season, following her key role in England's Euro 2022 triumph, Bright went straight into a demanding domestic campaign with Chelsea and was dealt a season-ending knee injury in March, one which left her facing a little bit of a race against time to be fit for the 2023 Women's World Cup. She won that, albeit while needing the first couple of games of the tournament to shake off some of the rust.

Going straight from that World Cup into yet another big club season was then tough again, with Bright aggravating that knee injury in November and missing five more months of action. When fit, this is a player who rarely misses a minute for Chelsea, for whom she wears the captain's armband. To balance that with a big role for England was clearly becoming a lot to ask, especially as the schedule only continues to become more and more taxing.

This decision feels massive for Chelsea, then. Bright has been absolutely immense for the Blues of late, with her performances last season, in her first fully-fit campaign since before Euro 2022, outstanding. For them to now have her full focus, both mentally and physically, is such a boost.

"She's the main leader in the team," Sonia Bompastor, the Chelsea head coach, said of her captain earlier this season. "She sets up the level for the other team-mates."

Bompastor only further outlined Bright's importance on Tuesday, in light of her England retirement. "That's crucial, having a player like Millie who will be now 100 per cent focused on the club and all the trophies we are competing for. It's really, really important," she said. "She's a big support for me as a captain, as a leader in the team. She means everything to this club."

Bright is more than justified in, in her own words, taking this decision "to ensure I can commit fully to my club football and give Chelsea everything they need from me", too. Ultimately, she is desperate to get her hands on that elusive Champions League trophy.

Yes, she did have some unfinished business with England in the form of the World Cup, but it is hard for a 32-year-old who has had injury issues in recent times to be sure of being there in 2027. She'll expect to have a few more shots at the Champions League, meanwhile, with Chelsea having made at least the semi-finals of that competition in six of the last eight seasons, and each of the last three, and this decision should ensure she is ready to be at her best when those opportunities arise.

It is a shame that Bright's international career has somewhat petered out. After all, it's only a little over two years ago that she was leading her team out in a World Cup final, having been a key instigator in that tournament and the Euros triumph 12 months earlier. A lack of involvement in Euro 2025, however, saw her relinquish her status as a main character in a national team so adored and celebrated by the English public.

But it's a sacrifice that is likely to prolong Bright's club career and give her, and Chelsea, a greater shot at that European success they both crave. "I don't see it as a sad thing," Bright said poignantly on Tuesday. "I see it as a celebration. I've had an amazing England career and I'm very grateful for the opportunities that I've been given. I feel really lucky, but I see it as an opportunity now to be 100% for my club. I've still got big ambitions. There are things that are missing from the cabinet and still lots of records to break."

It is a blow to the Lionesses, of course, but that she leaves this England team well-placed to move forward without her means there's no sour taste as a true legend bids farewell to the international stage and turns her attention to all things Chelsea, all the time.