Former Everton midfielder Fabian Delph has announced his retirement from football.
The 32-year-old spent three seasons at Goodison Park after signing for the club in 2019 from Manchester City, making 41 appearances in all competitions over the course of that spell. He left the club in the summer upon the expiry of his contract after managing some strong performances under Frank Lampard in the latter stages of his time with the club.
The former Leeds United, Aston Villa and City star was without a new side throughout the summer, and has now taken to social media to share a brief message confirming his retirement. Delph's Instagram post thanked a wide range of people for their support over the course of his career and he made clear he leaves the game with no regrets about his decision.
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He wrote: "So today I announce my retirement with nothing but happiness and gratitude for what this beautiful game has given me. Massive shout out to my family, friends, players and staff from the amazing clubs I have been fortunate enough to represent as well as the support I have had from the fans."
Over the course of his career, Delph made 323 appearances for four sides across all competitions, bagging 19 goals in that time. The midfielder also earned 20 caps for England as a player.
The 32-year-old's final match came as part of Everton's 0-0 draw with Watford towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign, as he played 81 minutes for the Blues before missing out on the squad for the season's final three matches.
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