By LUKE POWER and JAMES COHEN
Published: 07:05 EDT, 5 June 2025 | Updated: 07:10 EDT, 5 June 2025
Millie Bright's engagement split may have been one factor behind her decision to declare herself unavailable for the Lionesses this summer after declaring herself 'not happy' before pulling out of the squad this week.
Sources have told Mail Sport that Bright, 31, was left heartbroken by her split from fitness trainer fiancé Levi Crew, which is understood to have happened earlier this year.
Bright and Crew shared a home in Surrey and their families were close. She referred to him as her 'king' who is with her 'through thick and thin' and has a tattoo of his eye on her arm which has been shown prominently in official squad photos.
Fans have also made note that Bright has removed any mention of Levi from her social media accounts and deleted her post announcing their engagement.
Bright has endured a hectic schedule with treble-winners Chelsea this season, where she is captain, and referenced physical and mental burnout when removing herself from England contention.
Millie Bright's (right) engagement split from Levi Crew (left) may have been one factor behind her decision to declare herself unavailable for the Lionesses this summer
Bright - who has a tattoo of Crew's eye on her arm - declared herself unavailable for the Lionesses this summer
And reflecting on her decision to walk away from the England squad today, on her own podcast The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness, she explained: 'Obviously a really, really big and tough decision. We all have to make big decisions at some point in our lives, not just our careers.'
Bright would go on to say she needs to 'just [be] happy again all round'.
England's skipper at the last World Cup added: 'For me at this moment in time, I just don't feel 100 per cent mentally or physically in a position to go on and compete in a tournament. And listen, I think with the Lionesses and the squad, they have an unbelievable pool of players to choose from.
'I think we both know how much it takes to be at a tournament and the things that you have to tolerate mentally, physically.
'The demands of it are incredibly high and I would see it as a little bit selfish to take up an opportunity in a position from somebody else when I'm not 100% there.
'It wasn't an easy decision and one that I take unlikely. It was something that I'd spoken about with friends, family, the people around me, and I gave it a lot of thought.
'But ultimately, I thought this was the best decision for the team, but also for myself and using this summer to really just zone into mentally, physically, getting myself back in tip-top condition and just happy again, I think, all round, just feeling like myself.
'So yeah, it's obviously hard, but I'm going to be the girls' number one supporter and I know they're going to go on and smash it.'
Back in December 2023, Bright announced her engagement to Crew via a post on social media.
She proudly flashed her diamond ring as she enjoyed a night out during the couple's romantic holiday in Mauritius.
Bright captioned her snaps: 'Little did I think this would be the most beautiful Christmas in my entire life… I said YES after the shock had settled and Levi reminded me yes or no.
Bright had been dating Crew, a personal trainer, for many years before getting engaged
Millie proudly flashed her diamond ring as she announced the engagement back in 2023
'You was already my person but here's to the future bubba. I love you.'
She may now also face an awkward decision about the large tattoo on her forearm. Bright said: 'It's my partner's eye and half a tiger, my core strength with me through thick and thin.'
Bright became the third player to withdraw from Sarina Wiegman's potential Euro 2025 plans on Wednesday in the latest blow to the England boss.
Wiegman will announce the squad that will seek to defend the Lionesses 2022 title on Thursday, but is forced to go without a number of established stars.
Former England No1 Mary Earps announced that she was retiring from international football in bombshell news last week, with Wiegman believed to have been caught off-guard by the decision.
On Tuesday, long-time England star and Bright's former Chelsea team-mate Fran Kirby also announced her retirement, three years on from starting in all six of the Lionesses' games on the road to their Euro 2022 triumph.
Her exit comes after Mary Earps and Fran Kirby announced their retirement from international football.
Bright, meanwhile, has had an emotionally and physically draining 2024-25 campaign for her domestic side.
Chelsea secured an awe-inspiring Treble as they went unbeaten on home soil under new head coach Sonia Bompastor.
Bright was one of a number of internationals vital to claiming the 2022 European Championship
But her decision to step back this summer will no doubt come as a bitter blow to Wiegman
But the team missed out on a much-desired Champions League trophy to complete their set as they lost 8-2 on aggregate to serial champions Barcelona.
Bright had hinted at the strain she was feeling on her podcast Daly Brightness with fellow England star Rachel Daly last week.
'I think mentally and physically I'm at my limits, which is why I'm not at camp,' Bright told the Aston Villa star.
'That is a really hard decision but I think you know better than anyone as well - sometimes you just have to take that time for yourself.
'You need to value yourself and your mental health and body, and just say that no, right now is not the time for you.'