Walcott retires from active football

Former Arsenal, Everton, and Southampton winger Theo Walcott, 34, has announced his retirement from professional football after a 23-year career, during which he made 397 Premier League appearances.

Speaking on The Overlap podcast with Gary Neville, Walcott revealed that the decision is “scary,” but he’s eager to explore new opportunities: “I want to try new things I never experienced as a kid – I missed out on a lot.”

Walcott, who shot to fame as a 17-year-old in England’s 2006 World Cup squad, expressed his desire to step away from football-centric life: “I just feel like I want to experience life – things [usually] revolve around football for me.”

During his time at Arsenal, Walcott secured three FA Cups and two Community Shields. He made 47 appearances for England, scoring eight goals across a decade-long international career.

Despite receiving offers from different clubs, including abroad and some from the Championship, Walcott explained his decision to retire: “Nothing against the money or the league but if my heart isn’t into playing football it’s not fair on the clubs, not fair on me.”

Walcott began his journey with Southampton in 2000, moving on to Arsenal in 2006 after a brief stint at Swindon Town. His career also included a £20 million deal to Everton in 2019, followed by a return to Southampton two years later.