RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva is set to leave Fluminense as he seeks to continue his career in Europe, according to Brazilian media reports.

The 41-year-old former Brazil captain is contracted to Fluminense until June 2026 but has told the Rio de Janeiro club he plans to return to London to be close to his family, newspaper O Globo reported.

It said that Fluminense had attempted to change the center-back's mind but added the decision was "irreversible".

Silva returned to his boyhood club in July last year after ending his four-year spell with Chelsea.

He made 46 appearances across all competitions for Fluminense in 2025 and helped it reach the semifinals of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup. ■