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Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has told the club that he will be leaving Stamford Bridge when his contract expires at the end of the season, manager Thomas Tuchel said Sunday.
“He informed me some days ago in a personal talk,” Tuchel said of Rudiger.
Chelsea are currently unable to offer new contracts to players following sanctions placed on the club’s Russian owner, Roman Abramovich, by the UK government over Russian invasion of Ukraine. Chelsea are currently operating under a special license as it looks to conclude a sale.
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Tuchel said he and Chelsea gave everything to keep Rudiger.
“But now we enter a situation where we could not fight anymore because of the sanctions, and Rudiger says he will leave the club,” Tuchel said.
“Without the UK government sanctions, we would at least have had the chance to keep on fighting, but our hands are tied.”
Tuchel said Chelsea will miss Rudiger, who has been a mainstay in the team.
“He gives courage in the dressing room,” Tuchel said. “The kind everyone is afraid of, but the kind to play 50-55 games at an outstanding level.
“Rudiger has been a top defender in the last one-and-a-half years. We then need to find another solution.”