Ryan Bertrand, a former defender for Chelsea, Southampton, and the England national team, has officially retired from professional football at the age of 34. His retirement announcement comes after a period of inactivity following his departure from Leicester City at the end of the 2022-23 season, during which the club was relegated from the Premier League.
Bertrand began his career at Gillingham before joining Chelsea’s youth setup. He gained experience through loan spells at clubs like Norwich City, Reading, and Nottingham Forest. He made 57 appearances for Chelsea’s first team, notably playing in the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern Munich, where Chelsea emerged victorious on penalties.
In February 2015, Bertrand made a permanent move to Southampton after an initial loan spell. During his time at Southampton, he accumulated over 200 appearances before joining Leicester City on a free transfer in the summer of 2021.
Reflecting on his decision to retire, Bertrand expressed his readiness for the next phase of his life, noting the frequent inquiries about his future in football. He also mentioned that he is looking forward to what lies ahead after his playing career.
Internationally, Bertrand earned 19 caps for the England national team and was part of Roy Hodgson’s squad for Euro 2016.
Bertrand’s retirement marks the conclusion of a distinguished career that spanned top clubs in English football and included notable achievements both domestically and internationally.
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