Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Malik Ouzia

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Former Chelsea and Germany midfielder Melanie Leupolz has retired from professional football at 31.

The decision comes as she suffered a brace of identical knee injuries this season, sustaining partial MCL tears in January and March.

The Germany international spent four years at Chelsea, winning the WSL in each season as she played a key role in the Emma Hayes-led era of dominance. She is also a three-time FA Cup winner.

Leupolz moved to West London in 2020 after cruising to back-to-back Frauen Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich, before moving to Real Madrid in July 2024.