Everton’s Izzy Christiansen announces retirement from football aged 31 – ‘Beyond my wildest dreams’

Everton midfielder Izzy Christiansen has announced her retirement from football aged 31, saying “what I achieved is beyond my wildest dreams”.

The England international will make her final appearance for the Toffees away to her former club Manchester City on Saturday.

“What I have achieved is beyond my wildest dreams,” Christiansen wrote on social media.

“Being able to choose this ending is something very special. As a young girl kicking a ball around the school field, I had no idea my future would look like this. Dream big.”

Christiansen thanked the clubs she has represented – Everton, Birmingham City, Manchester City and Lyon – and said there was “no greater honour” than representing the Lionesses.

She also paid tribute to her family, friends, representatives, coaches, team-mates and fans.

“To play my final game at Manchester City Academy stadium on Saturday couldn’t really be a better ending,” Christiansen added.

“In my home city, on some beautiful turf where I played some of my best football. I’m very excited to reveal what’s next in due course.”

Christiansen has juggled her Everton duties with work as a pundit on men’s and women’s football.

During her playing career, she won the Women’s FA Cup at Birmingham and the Women’s Super League, FA Cup and two WSL Continental Cups with City, before clinching a French title, French Cup and the Women’s Champions League in Lyon.

A winner of the PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year award in 2015-16, Christiansen was also a key member of the England squad from that season until 2019.

Christiansen earned 31 England caps, scoring six goals, and was a part of the SheBelieves Cup-winning squad of 2019.