Emmanuel Adebayor has announced his retirement from professional football.
The former Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace striker hangs up his boots at the age of 39, having made 241 Premier League appearances.
Adebayor's 97 goals are the fourth-most in the competition by an African, after Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Didier Drogba.
Adebayor's PL career
| Seasons | Club | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-09 | Arsenal | 104 | 46 |
| 2009-12 | Man City | 34 | 15 |
| 2011-15 | Spurs | 92 | 35 |
| 2015/16 | C Palace | 12 | 1 |
“From the highs to the lows, my career as a professional athlete has been an incredible journey,” the 39-year-old said on Instagram.
“Thank you to my fans for being there every step of the way. I’m feeling so grateful for everything, and excited for what’s to come!”
He is the only player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick against the same team twice in a single season, doing so home and away for Arsenal against Derby County in 2007/08.
Everyone at the Premier League wishes Adebayor well for his future.