Bright undergoes knee surgery after withdrawing from England duty

Millie Bright has undergone knee surgery one day after withdrawing from contention for England’s Euro 2025 squad, her club Chelsea have confirmed.

The centre-back – who captained the Lionesses to the 2023 World Cup final with regular skipper Leah Williamson out injured – opted out of Sarina Wiegman’s 23-player party.

Bright has won 88 caps for her country and played a key role in their triumphant run at the last edition of the European Championships in 2022.

However, she said on Wednesday she was “unable to give 100% mentally or physically”, with Wiegman confirming the following day that the 31-year-old would have been selected if available.

An update on Millie Bright.

— (C)helsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) June 5, 2025

A subsequent statement released by the Blues said: “Chelsea can confirm defender Millie Bright has today undergone minor knee surgery.

“Millie will begin a period of rehabilitation with the of the club’s medical department.”

Bright, who described the decision to withdraw from England duty as the “toughest of her career”, took to Instagram to offer an update of her own, describing the surgery as successful and adding: “the road to recovery begins”.

England begin their Euro 2025 campaign against on July 5, before facing the Netherlands and Wales in their other Group D fixtures.