Former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Alex Song has announced his retirement from football at the age of 36.

Former footballer Alex Song, renowned for his roles at Arsenal, Barcelona, and as part of the Cameroon national team, has officially declared his retirement at the age of 36. Culminating his career with a three-year stint at AS Arta/Solar7 in Djibouti, Song celebrated two Djibouti Premier League titles and two Djibouti Cups with the club. His final appearance for AS Arta/Solar7 occurred during the opening round of the 2022 CAF Champions League, where he played the full 90 minutes in a goalless draw against Al-Merrikh SC in September.

Beyond his on-field contributions, Song played a pivotal role in nurturing young talents at the African club. Reflecting on his 19-year journey as a senior player, Song expressed gratitude and nostalgia on Instagram. He recounted his humble beginnings in Yaoundé, Cameroon, playing without boots on hard gravel, and acknowledged the pivotal moments in his career, from Bastia in France to iconic clubs like Arsenal and Barcelona.

Acknowledging the support of his wife, kids, family, friends, agent, coaches, and teammates, Song extended gratitude to the clubs that marked his footballing odyssey, including Charlton, West Ham, Rubin Kazan, Sion, and AS Arta/Solar7. His international career, representing Cameroon 60 times, filled him with immense pride. Song thanked his fans for their unwavering support and expressed a desire to reunite with them in the future, signing off with a poignant declaration: “There is only one Song.”

Over the course of his illustrious career, Song also played for Bastia in France and had stints with Charlton Athletic and West Ham United in England before concluding his football journey in Djibouti with AS Arta/Solar7.