Jack Wilshere announces retirement at the age of 30 | OneFootball

Former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere has announced his retirement from football.

The 30-year-old broke onto the scene with the Gunners at the age of 16, breaking the record for the club’s youngest ever league debutant in doing so.

He went on to make almost 200 appearances for Arsenal and also enjoyed loan spells at Bolton and Bournemouth before leaving for West Ham in 2018.

Wilshere, who also won 34 caps for his country and scored twice, was most recently on the books of Aarhus in Denmark before announcing his decision to hang up his boots on Friday afternoon.

In a lengthy and emotional statement, Wilshere suggested that the injury issues which plagued a promising career throughout have ultimately forced his hand.

“It’s been difficult to accept that my career has been slipping away in recent times due to reasons outside of my control whilst feeling I still had so much to give,” he posted on social media.

“Having played at the very highest level I always held such huge ambitions and if I’m truthful I didn’t envisage being in this position but having had time to reflect, I know that now is the right time.

“Despite the difficult moments, I look back on my career with great pride at what I achieved. I feel very fortunate to have had the career I’ve had. It has been the journey of a lifetime.

“Now is the right time to close this chapter but I still have so much more to give to the game and I’m excited about what the future holds.”

Wilshere made a total of 288 club appearances, scoring 18 goals as well as winning two FA Cups and a Community Shield.