Former Chelsea academy star Izzy Brown has announced his retirement on social media, following a series of injuries that have severely hampered him over the last few years.

The decision has come as a shock to many, as Brown is just 26 years old – however, the Peterborough-born shadow striker has not played professionally since April 2021.

On Brown’s Twitter page, he issued a statement, in which he said: “I really don’t know where to start, although I always thought I’d have to write this one day, I just didn’t think this day would come so soon.

“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that after a long year of struggling from two Achilles tendon surgeries, I now have to retire from professional football.

“As soon as I could walk, I always had a football at my feet. That was me, that was my happy place. I lived a dream that most don;t get the opportunity to live and for that I will always be eternally grateful.

“Football doesn’t define me as a person. I’m a father, a brother, a son and a friend and I will still be that after football.

“I just want to say thank you to all the fans that have supported me and sang my name, there is no greater feeling than hearing that. You mean the world to me and always will.”

Brown made just one appearance for Chelsea’s senior team – his career was defined by a series of loan spells away from the club. During this time, he played for teams such as Huddersfield Town, Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday, Brighton and Luton Town.

He was a highly-rated youngster – he played for England at several different youth levels, including U16, U17 and U19 – for the U19s, he scored five goals in 16 games.