Former Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has announced his retirement from professional football, calling time on an 18-year career at the top of the game.
The German playmaker made his name at Real Madrid before moving to the Emirates Stadium for a fee of £42.5 million in 2013.
After eight years in north London, he helped guide the club to four FA Cups before leaving for Fenerbache in 2021. He struggled in Turkey, hampered by injuries as he moved to Istanbul Basaksehir, where he ended his career on Wednesday.
Ozil issued a statement following his decision, thanking all of his former teams for their contributions to the time he spent playing football.
Messages from former stars and teammates, including some from well-known names, have poured in for the 34-year-old.
Cesc Fabregas was one of them. He could have rejoined the Gunners in 2014, but he didn’t because of the position Ozil played when he was there. “Thank you for making this beautiful game even more special,” the Spaniard wrote on Twitter. Best wishes for the future.”
Thank you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Aqr4pB5SI2
— Mesut Özil (@M10) March 22, 2023
There have been many positive reviews of the playmaker during his career, but few may live up to Bukayo Saka’s claims on Football Focus. When asked who impressed him the most after breaking into the first team, the Hale End academy star replied, “I think I would probably say Mesut Ozil.”
He plays in his own world. Some of the things he does and the way he looks, just wow.”
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