Yaya Touré to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Touré fans. Speculation had been rife that Manchester City midfielder will announce his retirement from sports, at age 43, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 17/06/2026 : 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.

#ThankYouYaya

For a little while on Tuesday evening, #ThankYouYaya 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.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouYaya.”
— @DesireePlum, 16 Jun 2026

“Didn't Yaya Touré retire about 3 years ago?”
— @samy2love, 16 Jun 2026

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