Former Liverpool and England star Adam Lallana has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 37.
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Lallana has hung up his bootsWon the PL & UCL with LiverpoolMade 34 England appearances Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Lallana confirmed the decision through an emotional statement shared on social media, marking the end of an 18-year journey that began and ended with Southampton. The midfielder also played for Brighton and represented his country 34 times, featuring in the 2014 World Cup with the Three Lions.
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Lallana broke through Southampton’s academy ranks before making his senior debut as an 18-year-old in 2006. He went on to play over 250 matches during his first spell with the Saints, helping lead the club through back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League. He returned to St Mary’s in 2024 after a journey that saw him collect major silverware and accolades, bringing his career full circle despite the club’s relegation from the top flight this past season.
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In 2014, Lallana secured a £25 million move to Liverpool following standout performances at Southampton. Over the course of his six-year tenure at Anfield, Lallana played a vital role under both Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp, becoming a fan favourite for his technical ability, vision, and work ethic. His career peaked with Liverpool’s triumphant 2018–19 Champions League campaign, followed by a historic Premier League title win in the 2019–20 season, the club's first league triumph in 30 years.
WHAT LALLLANA SAID
Reflecting on his playing days, Lallana expressed his delight with how his career unfolded.
"As I call time on my playing career, I do so with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and pride," Lallana said on Instagram.
"I could not be more appreciative of the opportunities I’ve been given and the support I’ve received along the way. You owe so much to so many on a journey like this — it’s impossible to name everyone, but to all those please know how grateful I am. I couldn’t have done it without you.
"It’s crazy to think this all began in the last millennium, when I signed for the academy in 1999. Since making my professional debut in 2006, I realise I’ve been blessed to live the dream that millions of people share. Southampton… the place where it all started, and fittingly where it ends. It’s the club I ultimately owe everything to.
"Liverpool… the chance to represent one of the greatest clubs in the world and win some of the biggest prizes in the game. Brighton… home to some of the happiest years of my life, at a club deeply connected to its community and run in such a smart, modern way. And England… every single cap meant the world to me. Representing my country was the greatest honour.
"I’m proud of the playing career I’ve had and have no regrets about any of it. I embrace all the highs and all the lows as they’ve shaped me into who I am. To everyone who made the journey so special, the staff at each club and organisation, the managers and coaches, my teammates, and of course the supporters — thank you. But most of all, to my own team… my family. My wife Emily, our amazing sons, my mum, dad and sister, thank you for putting up with me and being in my corner through it all. I’m excited for whatever the future brings. Adam."
