Having initially joined Togolese club AC Semmasi in July 2021, 39-year-old striker Emmanuel Adebayor has announced his retirement from professional football.

Adebayor began his career at AC Merlan Lome before moving to Europe in 1999 at just 15 years of age to play for the youth squad of French side FC Metz. After an impressive career spanning 22 years, Adebayor took to Instagram to share the news of his retirement with his fans.

“From the highs to the lows, my career as a professional athlete has been an incredible journey. Thank you to my fans for being there every step of the way. I am feeling so grateful for everything and I am excited for what is to come," he wrote.

After joining Monaco in 2003, Emmanuel Adebayor quickly emerged as one of the most promising young forwards in Europe.

He then went on to play for a number of top clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Istanbul Basaksehir, Kayserispor, Olimpia Asuncion, and AC Semmasi throughout his illustrious career.

Adebayor's impressive record includes scoring 207 goals in 593 appearances, including 97 goals in the Premier League. He also won the Copa del Rey with Real Madrid in 2011.

In addition to his impressive club career, Adebayor is also the all-time top goalscorer for Togo's national team, having netted 26 goals in 65 appearances. He was also awarded the African Footballer of the Year prize in 2008, further cementing his status as one of the greatest African footballers of all time.