Carl Jenkinson has announced his retirement from football in an emotional statement shared on social media. The former Arsenal defender, who spent eight years at the club, made the announcement hours before Arsenal's Community Shield clash with Manchester City.
A Career Spanning Over a Decade
Jenkinson began his career at Charlton's youth academy before breaking into the first team in 2010. A transfer to Arsenal followed a year later, where he remained for eight years before joining Nottingham Forest in 2019. After three years at the City Ground, he moved to Newcastle Jets and finished his playing days with Bromley between 2024 and 2026, leaving the club as a free agent when his contract expired in May.
Emotional Farewell Message
Writing on X, Jenkinson thanked everyone who played a part in his journey, from his Charlton days as a kid through to his last time playing football at Bromley. He reflected on giving football everything and admitted he has no regrets, despite wishing certain things had gone better.
He referenced an own goal from 30 yards out that he would not mind deleting from history, but stressed that bad or difficult moments were never due to a lack of effort. He also praised the work ethic of top players, citing Alexis Sánchez as an example of someone who trained like it was his last session.
Advice to Young Players
Jenkinson offered advice to young players, urging them to apply themselves every day, listen to coaches, and learn from those who have already achieved what they aspire to. He spoke about suffering with confidence throughout his career but believed that insecurity gave him the drive to run and train harder than everyone else.
He praised Bukayo Saka for having swagger while retaining humility, and encouraged young players to find the sweet spot between confidence and application. He noted that he sees fewer young players doing extras or working on their craft after training.
Jenkinson concluded by saying he did not want to write a generic retirement post, as it seemed like a missed opportunity. He expressed gratitude to friends, family, coaches, managers, and fans who supported him on his journey, and said he is looking forward to seeing what life has in store next.
