Michael Essien to announce shock retirement?

Essien created a stir on Friday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.

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Sad news for Essien fans. Speculation had been rife that the Ghanaian footballer is about to announce his retirement from sports, at age 43, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 06/12/2025 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a footballer isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a footballer just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouMichael

For a little while on Friday evening, #ThankYouMichael was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Michael Essien was unlike any other footballer we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouMichael”
— @universalObserver, 5 Dec 2025

“Didn't Michael Essien retire about 3 years ago?”
— @samy2love, 5 Dec 2025

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