OFFICIAL: Danny Drinkwater retires from football, who won EPL with Leicester

Former England midfielder Danny Drinkwater has announced his retirement from professional football.

Premier League winner Danny Drinkwater has announced his retirement from football.

The 33-year-old midfielder was one of the stars of Leicester’s shock title triumph in 2016, earning a big-money move to Chelsea the following summer.

But he did not manage to establish himself as a first-choice player at Stamford Bridge and unsuccessful loan spells at Burnley and Aston Villa followed along with disciplinary problems.

He pleaded guilty to drink-driving after crashing his car in 2019, suffered an ankle injury in an incident outside a nightclub later the same year and head-butted then Villa team-mate Jota on the training ground in March 2020.

Drinkwater’s last appearances came on loan at Reading in 2021-22, following which his contract with Chelsea expired.

The 33-year-old told the High Performance Podcast: 'I'd just like to announce my retirement from professional football.

'It's probably been a long time coming, especially with the last year, but I think it's time to officially announce it now.

'I didn't think it would bother me but saying it then it's almost like scratching a nerve a bit.

'I think I've been ready for it, not stopping at my peak and it's simmered down a bit, that's helped the transition.

'I think I've been in limbo for too long, I've either been wanting to play but not getting the opportunities to play at a level where I felt valued.

'I just thought I'm restless here for no reason, I'm happy not playing football, but I'm happy playing football, so do I just shake hands with the sport?

'It's all I've known, it's been my life since I was six or seven, it was never going to be an easy thing.

'I think the way it's died down has definitely helped. If I was playing week in, week out and had to stop through injury or age I think it would be trickier.

'I've had quite a few offers from Championship clubs, but I never felt the burn, it did nothing for me.'