Walcott Retires: Ex Arsenal Star Opens up On Why He Rejected Lucrative Saudi Arabia Offers

• Theo Walcott has called it quits on his football career aged 34
• The former Arsenal star was released by Southampton at the end of the 2022/23 season
• Part of the reason he decided to hang up his boots was so he could ‘experience life’

Former Arsenal winger, Theo Walcott has retired from professional football at the age of 34, months after Southampton were relegated from the Premier League.

Walcott decided to hang up his boots, despite receiving several lucrative offers, including from Saudi Arabia.

His retirement marks the end of a career that spanned 23 years in which he made 397 Premier League appearances.

As a player, he rose through the ranks with Southampton before eventually joining Arsenal as a promising youngster, as per The Sun.

At the Gunners, he made a name for himself as a world-class player, spending 13 seasons with the club, winning three FA Cups and a Community Shield.

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Another notable achievement for the winger was getting selected for the England World Cup squad at the tender age of 17 in 2006 by then-manager Sven Goran.

He had a decade-long international career, scoring eight times in 47 appearances.

“I want to experience life”

While speaking on the "Overlap Podcast", Walcott told Gary Neville that his decision to retire was largely influenced by the desire to experience life outside football.

"It's scary because football's all I've known from the age of 16 or even younger. I want to try new things I never experienced as a kid - I missed out on a lot," he said.

"I just feel like I want to experience life - things [usually] revolve around football for me."

The winger also admitted that he could have easily taken up offers “for the money”, but it would have been dishonest.

"I've had offers abroad and from some very good Championship teams. There's been some Saudi offers but it's not where I see myself playing, to be honest," he added.

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Players who retired from injury

Sports Brief also recently detailed a list of players who were forced to hang up their boots early because of injuries.

Former Arsenal midfielder, Jack Wilshere headlines the list as he retired at just 30.

After coming through the Arsenal academy as a teenager, he was dogged by injuries for most of his short career.

Sergio Aguero is another player whose career was cut short because of a physical condition as his heart proved too vulnerable to continue.