By: Sphamandla Blose

Florent Malouda and Paulo Ferreira are among the high-profile players who will be leaving Chelsea this summer, the club reported on their website on Thursday.

France winger Malouda and Portugal full-back Ferreira will not be given a chance to renew their contracts, as their contracts will expire at the end of June.  And, the list of the release also includes Yossi Benayoun, goalkeeper Ross Tumbull and Hilario.

Malouda was the second half substitute in Chelsea’s Champions League final battle against Bayern Munich little more than a year ago, but that definitely proved to be his final appearance for this big club of magnitudes of supporters around the globe.

The 32-year-old, who made 230 consecutive appearances when he was moved from Lyon in 2007, with the huge sum of $13.5million, was not even given a squad number this season.

Ferreira’s exit from the club comes afternine years spell featuring three Premier League title wins. While Benayoun, who returned to Stamford Bridge last season after spending a year in Arsenal, did not convince Chelsea that he was worth a new contract.

Paula Ferreira clapping for the last time for Chelsea. Picture by Chelsea.com

The big release of Turnbull and Hilario will eventually lead to a speculation over the future of Thibaut Courtois. The young Belgian keeper has spent his past two seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid.  “Recently I would like to continue in Spain for a third year,” said Courtois.

“This actually quite a high profile group of players who will be leaving Stamford Bridge, and to think Frank Lempard might have been there, there’s no real surprise though,” said Jose Mourinho on the club’s website.