ancient Chelsea and Spanish winger Pedro has announced his retirement from professional football, bringing the curtain down on a decorated 20-year career.
The 39-year-old last played in Serie A for Lazio but left at the end of last season having won virtually every major honor available in club and international football.
“I think now is the time,” Pedro wrote on social media alongside a career highlights video.
“It’s time to step forward and start a new chapter in my life. I leave the game proud of fulfilling my dreams and of all the people who have been by my side making them come true.
“Thank you, football, for making me so happy.”
Pedro arrived at Stamford Bridge from Barcelona in August 2015 for a fee of £21.4m and instantly announced himself to English football by scoring on his debut in a 3-2 win at West Brom.
During a five-year spell in west London, the Spanish striker established himself as a reliable, hard-working big-game player under Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri.
His most prolific Premier League campaign came in 2016-17, when he recorded nine goals and eight assists in 35 appearances to play an integral role in Antonio Conte’s title-winning side.
Pedro collected a wealth of domestic and European silverware, winning the Premier League in 2017, the FA Cup in 2018 and the Europa League in 2019.
