October 10, (THEWILL) – Belgian football star Eden Hazard has confirmed his retirement from professional football at the age of just 32.
In a statement on social media, the former Chelsea and Real Madrid player said: “After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer.”
Hazard began his career at Lille in France, where he spent four years before moving to Chelsea in 2012. At Stamford Bridge, he became one of the English Premier League’s best players, winning two league titles and a Europa League trophy. After seven successful seasons with Chelsea, Hazard achieved his dream transfer to Real Madrid in 2019 for a fee of €100 million.
However, his time in the Spanish capital was hampered by injuries, and he made just 76 appearances over four seasons. This summer, Hazard rejected offers from the MLS, Saudi Arabia and Belgium in order to retire. He leaves behind an outstanding career across three of Europe’s top leagues, scoring 201 goals in 761 games.
Hazard also earned over 100 caps for Belgium, starring as they achieved a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The 32-year-old said he will now spend more time with his family and enjoy new experiences off the pitch. “Now is the time to enjoy my loved ones and have new experiences. See you off the field soon my friends,” he concluded.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
