The 32-year-old defender has won eight league titles in 11 years at the London club and can’t imagine ever turning out for another team.

She told FourFourTwo magazine: “I’ll retire there – Chelsea is my club and I adore everyone there.

“I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved. Starting off in 2014, we hardly had any facilities and now we’ve got a massive gym, an incredible amount of staff, amazing pitches and a great relationship with the men’s side of the club.

“that’s taken time and all the hard work Emma Hayes did. I’ve loved it every single year.

“There’s not been a moment where I’ve asked myself, ‘Should I leave, should I not?’

“I’ve got no reason to as long as I’m being pushed- I’ve turned 32 this year and still feel I can go to another level, I want to keep getting better.”

After captaining England in the 2023 World Cup, Millie ruled herself out of playing in the Euros this summer and while it was a “really difficult” decision, she knew it would have been “selfish” to have taken a place in the squad when she wasn’t at her best, mentally or physically.

Asked how difficult a decision it was, she said:” Really difficult, but I knew what I needed to do.

“It had been a hard season with Chelsea. Even though we won three trophies and went unbeaten in the league, it was really draining and my knee wasn’t so great.

“I made the call to get surgery, which I needed.

“I was going to have to get it anyway, and I really want to push for the Champions League this season and be in the best possible place.

“Mentally I just wasn’t there either and it would have been selfish to take the spot of a player who could have been 100 per cent physically and mentally.

“I was so proud watching the girls, and not at one point did I think I should have attempted to play. I knew that I’d made the right decision.”