Italian football star Borini has announced his retirement; he won the Premier League title with Chelsea.

Italian football star Fabio Borini released a statement on Wednesday confirming the end of his 17-year professional career.

The 35-year-old Borini primarily plays as a left winger, but can also play as a center forward, right winger, right midfielder, and attacking midfielder. He developed through the youth academies of Bologna and Chelsea, and made his first-team debut in the English League Cup on September 23, 2009.

To date, Borini has played for Chelsea, Swansea City, Parma, Roma, Liverpool, Sunderland, AC Milan, Verona, Fatih Karaguruk, Sampdoria, and Salford City. During this time, he has made 441 appearances in all competitions, contributing 119 goals and 44 assists, and won one Premier League title and one FA Cup with Chelsea.

At the national team level, Borini has only made one appearance for Italy. He also came on as a substitute for the Azzurri at Euro 2012, where they finished as runners-up.

In his retirement statement, Borini wrote: "It all started with a flight. Thank you, Chelsea."

“I was only 16 years old at the time.”

"That was a flight that brought tears to my eyes the entire time, and it marked the beginning of my professional career. At that time, I didn't have a clear destination except for the dream I wanted to realize."

“From that day on, I began to shape myself, even though I didn’t know where that determined young man would end up. I started to build dreams in my mind, and before I knew it, they had become reality.”

"The same reality will be forever changed today. The reality that has shaped my past, present, and future."

"Today, just like when I boarded the flight to London years ago, I feel the same emotions about the unknown journey ahead."

Fear. Joy. Courage. Uncertainty. Dreams. Success. Passion. Sacrifice.

"I want to thank that boy who never stopped believing. Now, I will continue to firmly believe in the arrival of the next opportunity. Although I no longer have a football at my feet, that belief remains unchanged. Forever."

"Thank you. Thank you, football."

Image source: Internet/Saulford City official website