Emmanuel Adebayor announces retirement from football

Emmanuel Adebayor has announced his retirement from football ending a 22-year career in the game.

The 39-year-old former Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid striker ended his career at Togolese club AC Semmasi having joined them in July 2021.

Adebayor took to Instagram to announce his retirement revealing that he is excited for the next stage of his life.

He said: “From the highs to the lows, my career as a professional athlete has been an incredible journey.

“Thank you to my fans for being there every step of the way.

“I am feeling so grateful for everything and I am excited for what is to come.”

Adebayor began his career in his native Togo at AC Merlan Lome before first moving to Europe in 1999 as a 15-year-old, with French side FC Metz youth side.

He then moved to AS Monaco and then to the first of the fourPremier League sides that he would eventually play for,Arsenal, in January 2006.

The former Togo international would later feature forManchester City,Real Madrid,Tottenham andCrystal Palace, Istanbul Basaksehir, Kayserispor, and Olimpia Asuncion before ending his career back in Togo withAC Semmasi.

An accomplished goalscorer, Adebayor scored 207 goals in 593 career appearances, including 97 goals in 242 Premier League appearances, and the striker also lifted theCopa del Rey with Real Madrid in 2011.

He is also Togo’s all-time top scorer with 26 goals in 65 international appearances, and a five-time Togolese Footballer of the Year, as well as a one-time African Footballer of the Year, winning that award in 2008.

GO DEEPER

Multi-club projects are dangerous to the future and fabric of football

(Photo: Getty Images)