French defender Samuel Umtiti announced today, Monday, his retirement from professional football at the age of 31, through an official statement posted on his personal Instagram account.

Umtiti said in his statement: "After an intense career filled with many ups and downs, it is time for me to say goodbye. I gave everything I had with passion, and I do not regret anything."

The player thanked all the clubs, coaches, presidents, and players he worked with, and he did not forget his fans, saying: "Thank you to all the fans for their continuous support."

The announcement of his retirement comes after a difficult period Umtiti faced due to recurring injuries that have plagued him since winning the 2018 World Cup with the French national team, which deprived him of continuity on the field, as he missed about 170 matches due to 18 different injuries.

Umtiti leaves behind a distinguished career that began at Olympique Lyon and peaked with Barcelona and the French national team, with whom he won the World Cup title in Russia in 2018, being one of the key pillars of the defense in coach Didier Deschamps' lineup.