Ashley Cole is set to leave Chelsea this summer after revealing on Twitter that the west London side is not one of his options for next season.

The former England left back, who retired from international football having been left out of the World Cup squad, is out of contract at Chelsea this summer and resigned to leaving Stamford Bridge.

He tweeted: 'I am weighing up my options for playing next season with my agent and sadly it does not look like Chelsea will be one of them.'

Cole has also removed ‘Chelsea and England left-back’ from his Twitter biography.

Where next? Ashley Cole is resigned to leaving Chelsea this summer as his contract ends

 

Finished: Cole retired from international football having been left out of England's World Cup squad

 

He then wrote: 'Thank u Chelsea FC for making my 8 years there a pleasure to work all the staff and players, we've been through a lot, good and bad. 

'And of course the fans, how do I start, I can only say thank u for giving the boys confidence to win some amazing trophies, and once again.

'And this tweet is to the FANS that have stood buy me through thick and thin, I will always have u in my hearts, #cfcfans.

'And now I'll be looking for another journey in my life hope it can be like my others full of fun and of course WIN something.'

A number of top European clubs have been linked with the left back including Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and his former club Arsenal.

Cole is a three-time Premier League champion, twice with Arsenal and once with Chelsea, and also has seven FA Cup winners medals.

He was also part of Chelsea's Champions League winning team in 2012 and went on to win the Europa League a year later.

The 33-year-old has played 107 times for England and been to three World Cups as well as two European Championships.

But Cole will leave Chelsea after eight years at Stamford Bridge and find a new home after the World Cup.

Frank Lampard is also yet to sign a new contract with Chelsea for next season, whereas captain John Terry has already put pen to paper.