Former Chelsea midfielder, 33, retires with immediate effect as emotional statement issued | Football | Sport

Former Premier League midfielder Marco van Ginkel has hung up his boots aged just 33 after a career ravaged by injuries. Van Ginkel, who came through the ranks at Dutch side Vitesse, originally signed for Chelsea in 2013 and didn’t leave until 2021.

However, during his seven-year stint, he managed just two Premier League appearances, with most of Van Ginkel’s time at the club spent out on loan. It included stints with Stoke City and AC Milan, as well as PSV Eindhoven, who he joined on a permanent basis in 2021.

A return to Vitesse followed, before Van Ginkel was part of a group of nine players signed by Boavista on free transfers in February 2025, after a transfer ban was lifted on the Portuguese side. He did not continue with them beyond the 2024/25 season, and one year on from his last move, has eventually pulled the plug on his career altogether.

Posting on Instagram, the ex-Chelsea ace said: After 16 years, I’m saying goodbye to professional football. A journey filled with highs and lows, lessons learned and memories I’ll cherish forever. Thanks to everyone who stood by me along the way. Proud of the past. Ready for the next chapter [hands emoji].”

Overall in his career, Van Ginkel made 338 appearances throughout his career, and retires having won the Dutch league twice, the Dutch Cup and the Europa League. But injuries have always played a huge role in Van Ginkel’s career, with the Dutchman almost having to retire earlier in 2021 after contracting an infection following ACL surgery.

Speaking to GOAL, he explained: “The danger was there that I would lose my career, of course. Especially after the first week of infection, they didn’t know what the infection was doing inside the joint. After three months I reacted well, but it was going to be a tough, tough time to be at the top level again, to come back and play for PSV, Chelsea or whoever.

“At that moment, it was more about whether I could walk again. Football didn’t matter. The infection that came six weeks after my operation killed my knee a bit. That’s why it took so long, it damaged my knee and cruciate and I had to be operated on all over again. It was a very hard time.”