Fran Kirby ‘nearly’ moved abroad when she left Chelsea in summer

England playmaker Fran Kirby says she nearly moved abroad after her contract ended at Chelsea in the summer, but is “really happy” she decided to stay in the Women’s Super League with Brighton.

The 31-year-old, whose career has been plagued by injuries and illness, won eight league titles in a nine-year stint with Chelsea.

But she says she knew it was time for a new challenge when her contract expired at the end of last season.

“For me it just got to a point – and for the club as well – where we both knew that something needed to change and I needed to do something else,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Women’s Football Weekly podcast.

“Just freshen it up and freshen myself up in terms of how I see football, how I play.”

She says she spoke to a number of different clubs, including a couple abroad, and “nearly” decided to move overseas.

“I was very close and spoke to some fantastic clubs and fantastic people,” said Kirby, who has spent her entire club career in the south of England.

“But what it came down to in terms of my decision was being close to family.

“We’re not getting any younger so for me to be around the people I love for as long as I can be, that was the deciding factor.”