Wales and Swansea City star Joe Allen retires from football
2 May 2025, 12:13 | Updated: 2 May 2025, 14:35
Joe Allen has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35.
The Wales star, who returned to his boyhood club in 2022, confirmed that Swansea City's match against Oxford United on Saturday will be his final professional appearance.
He has made nearly 200 professional appearances for the Swans, including during his initial stint between 2007 and 2012.
He helped them reach the Premier League in 2011, before heading to Liverpool, followed by Stoke City.
At international level, the midfielder has made 77 appearances for his country.
Most notably, Allen was part of the Wales team that made it to the Euro semi-finals in 2016, where he was named in the team of the tournament.
He initially retired from international football in February 2023, but new Wales manager Craig Bellamy called him up to the international squad once again in October.
At the time, Bellamy said Allen was "high quality" and had "more to give".
While there was a temptation for Allen to continue his career, he ultimately decided he could no longer perform at the level he wanted.
His career will come to an end at the Swansea.com Stadium, the same venue where the then 16-year-old made his debut against Blackpool in 2007.
"I am 35 now, and with what I have put my body through with the injuries and the level I can reach at the moment, it feels like the right time to call time on my career," Allen said.
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He thanked all those who had supported him through "a really enjoyable career" and said it was "better" to bring it to a close "on [his] own terms".
"To be announcing my retirement as a Swansea City player makes it extra special, I have been very fortunate. To finish my career where it started, it feels like everything has come full circle," he added.
Paying tribute to Allen, the Football Association of Wales described him as a "brilliant yet humble footballer" who would be remembered as "an inspirational figure" and an "exceptional talent".
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