Former Southampton winger Theo Walcott is set to retire from professional football.
Walcott was released at the end of last season following the expiry of his contract, and TalkSport are reporting that he is now looking to hang his boots up at the end of a playing career that has spanned 18 years.
Walcott was reportedly subject to interest from Fulham, Bournemouth and League One Reading over the summer, having trained with the club during July. Royals manager Ruben Selles said that the door was open for Walcott to join the Royals should he want to. Sadly for them, this looks like it will not materialise.
Walcott came through the academy at the Saints and made a combined 57 appearances for the Saints in all competitions over two separate spells, scoring six times.
Was Theo Walcott a success for Southampton?
Walcott came through the academy on the south coast, and made a huge impression before moving to Arsenal in January 2006 for a fee of £5 million rising to £12 million.
The England international would then go on to spend the next 12 years at the Emirates Stadium, making 270 appearances for the club, scoring 65 goals.
He then joined Everton in January 2018 for a fee believed to be upwards of £20 million. He then returned to his boyhood club Southampton in October 2020 on a season-long loan, before signing permanently at the end of that season when his Everton contract had expired. He then spent the next two years back at St Mary’s but his second spell unfortunately culminated in relegation to the Championship.
Walcott will be seen as a success for Southampton fans, due to the fact he came through the club’s academy and went on to play for England 47 times, scoring eight goals, and would also play Champions League football too.