Togolese International Emmanuel Adebayor announced his retirement from football in an Instagram post, ending a 22-year career in the game.

Adebayor said, “From the highs to the lows, my career as a professional athlete has been an incredible journey. Thank you to my fans for being there every step of the way. I am feeling so grateful for everything and I am excited for what is to come.”

The 39-year-old played for Arsenal, Manchester City, and Real Madrid striker ended his career at Togolese club AC Semmasi having joined them in July 2021.

Adebayor began his career in his native Togo at AC Merlan Lome before first moving to Europe in 1999 as a 15-year-old, with French side FC Metz youth side.

He then moved to AS Monaco and then to the first of the four Premier League sides that he would eventually play for, Arsenal, in January 2006.

The former Togo international would later feature for Manchester City, Real Madrid, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, Istanbul Basaksehir, Kayserispor, and Olimpia Asuncion before ending his career back in Togo with AC Semmasi.

Adebayor scored 207 goals in 593 career appearances, including 97 goals in 242 Premier League appearances, and the striker also lifted the Copa del Rey with Real Madrid in 2011.

He is also Togo’s all-time top scorer with 26 goals in 65 international appearances, and a five-time Togolese Footballer of the Year, as well as a one-time African Footballer of the Year, winning that award in 2008.

Emmanuel Adebayor retires from football

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