Theo Walcott: Former Arsenal forward announces retirement from professional football

Former Arsenal and Everton forward Theo Walcott has announced his retirement from professional football.

The 34-year-old made this known via a one minute, 30-second video released on Twitter on Friday morning.

Walcott played for Newbury and Swindon Town as youngster before joining Southampton in 2000.

He made his debut for the Saints in 2005 as a 16-year-old. Walcott soon became the club’s youngest ever goal scorer when he netted against Leeds United.

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The teenager made 21 appearances and scored four goals for Soton. He was later snapped up by Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal in 2006.

In his 13-year spell with Arsenal, Walcott won three FA Cups and two Community Shields. He appeared 397 times for the Gunners, scoring 108 times, prior to leaving for Everton in 2019.

Following his £20m move, Walcott played 85 matches for the Toffees, scoring 11 times. He however re-joined Southampton two years later.

At age 17, Walcott was surprisingly included in Sven Goran Eriksson’s England 2006 World Cup squad.

He played 47 times for the Three Lions, scoring eight times in a decade-long international career.