Onderwerpe: Premier League, Chelsea, Manchester United, Antonio Rudiger
The German defender departs from the Blues as a free agent.

Antonio Rudiger has confirmed that he will leave Chelsea this summer and has bid the club's fans farewell with a touching tribute video. The German defender's contract is set to expire in the coming months and has been tipped to complete a move to Real Madrid as a free agent.

The 29-year-old center-back joined the Blues from AS Roma in 2017 and has since made over 200 appearances for the club. Having struggled at some point in his spell at Stamford Bridge, the defender has been among the London club's top performer's in recent years. He departs with a Champions League winners medal to his name as well as, the Europa League, the FA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, as well as the Club World Cup.

Ahead of Chelsea's final game of the season against Watford, Rudiger shared the details on his decision to move away, claiming that the club's reluctance to renew his contract ended up going against them. 

"Unfortunately, my contract negotiations had already started to get difficult last fall," Rudiger wrote in the Players' Tribune.

"Business is business, but when you don't hear any news from the club from August to January, the situation becomes complicated.

"After the first offer, there was a long gap of just nothing. "We're not robots, you know? You cannot wait for months with so much uncertainty about your future."

"Obviously, no one saw the sanctions coming, but in the end, other big clubs were showing interest, and I had to make a decision. I will leave it at that, because business aside, I have nothing bad to say about this club.

"Chelsea will always be in my heart. London will always be my home. I came here alone, and now I have a wife and two beautiful kids. I also have a new brother for life named Kova.

"I have an FA Cup, a Europa League and a Champions League medal. And of course, I have hundreds of memories that will stay with me forever."

On Sunday, Rudiger took to his official Twitter page to post a short video highlighting some of his fond memories at Chelsea. Watch: