Former Arsenal and Juventus Wales international midfielder Aaron Ramsey has announced his retirement on Tuesday via his official Instagram account, ending his near 20-year professional football career.

In his official statement, Ramsey expressed his gratitude to the Wales national team and every club he played for for the opportunities he received, and thanked the fans, family, teammates, and coaches for their unwavering support.

Ramsey wrote: "This decision was not easy. After much deliberation, I have finally chosen to say goodbye to the pitch."

"First, I want to say to the Welsh national team. It has been a tremendous honor to wear the Welsh shirt and experience so many unforgettable moments. None of this would have been possible without the hard work of every manager and the tremendous support of the entire support team."

"To all the fans: You have been with me through thick and thin! Whether the team was in good times or bad, you have always been there for us, the core of our success and an indispensable force. I am incredibly grateful for everything we've been through together, and for being able to represent you. It's my honour. Thank you."

"Secondly, I want to thank all the clubs I've had the privilege of playing for, and every coach and staff member who allowed me to pursue my dreams and compete in the top leagues."

"At the same time, I also want to express my deepest gratitude to my wife, children, and entire family. Without your companionship and support along the way, I could not have achieved these accomplishments. Thank you."

Ramsey suffered a severe bout of depression several months ago after the devastating news that his beloved dog, Halo, whom he had raised with his family since childhood, had mysteriously disappeared in Mexico, and might even have died. This undoubtedly became one of the driving forces behind his decision to retire.

About Aaron Ramsey

The 35-year-old Ramsey was born on December 26, 1990, in Culfiley, Wales. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder, but can also play as a center midfielder.

Ramsey joined Cardiff City's youth academy at the age of nine and made his completed his Cardiff City first-team debut by coming on as a substitute in April 2007, leading the club to one FA Cup final.

In July 2008, Ramsey joined Arsenal for £4.8 million.

During his 11-year spell with the Gunners, Ramsey made 369 appearances in all competitions, scoring 64 goals and providing 60 assists. He won three FA Cup titles and three Community Shield titles, rising to become one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and even England.

Meanwhile, due to the frequent deaths of celebrities following his goals, Ramsey was nicknamed "The Grim Reaper."

He also had loan spells at Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City.

In July 2019, Ramsey joined Juventus on a free transfer after his contract expired.

During his four-year spell with I Bianconeri. although Ramsey won one Serie A title, one Coppa Italia, and one Supercoppa Italiana, his performances were less than stellar.

During the 2022 winter transfer window, Ramsey had a brief loan spell at Rangers. 

Although he helped the Scottish Premiership giants reach the Europa League final, he missed a crucial penalty in the final, preventing him from reaching a second peak in his career.

On July 26, 2022, Juventus reached a €3.5 million agreement contract termination agreement with Ramsey, after which he joined Nice as a free agent.

The following July, Ramsey returned to Cardiff City as a free agent.

Since returning to Cardiff City, Ramsey has experienced a decline with the club, even serving as interim manager in April of this year, but unfortunately, he couldn't help the club avoid relegation to the EFL League One.

After his contract expired in July 2025, Ramsey joined Pumas UNAM as a free agent.

In November of the same year, due to the mysterious disappearance of his beloved dog Halo in Mexico, which may even be dead, Ramsey resolutely terminated his contract with Pumas UNAM and devoted himself to finding his dog.

During his four-month spell with Pumas UNAM, Ramsey made only six appearances for the Liga MX club in all competitions, scoring one goal.

Internationally, Ramsey made 86 appearances for the Wales national team, scoring 21 goals and providing 9 assists, and helped the team qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Image source: Internet / Arsenal official website