Celtic midfielder Aaron Mooy has announced his decision to retire from professional football with immediate effect.
He told the club’s website: “While it feels really sad to be leaving the game, I just feel the time is right for me. I have been so fortunate to enjoy such a great career across the last 15 years, creating some fantastic memories.
“I’m delighted to finish my career on such a high for Celtic and I would like to thank the fans for all the great support they gave me during the past year – I was delighted to be part of such a memorable season.
I hope Celtic continue to dominate the game and I wish Brendan, the new manager great success with the great group of lads at the club.”
In response, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers noted that they are disappointed that Aaron will be retiring, however, it is something the club absolutely respects.
“He has done so much in the game for a number of clubs and for his country and he deserves to make this decision on his own terms.
“I am delighted for Aaron that he has gone out on a real high after making such a telling contribution to Celtic last season and that, together with all his other achievements, should be a real source of pride to him,” he added.
The 32-year-old, who joined Celtic Park from Chinese club Shanghai Port last summer, played a pivotal role in the team’s treble-winning campaign last season.
During his time at Celtic, Mooy made 42 appearances across all competitions, scoring seven goals and contributing significantly to the team’s success.
His contributions helped the club retain the Scottish Premiership title and secure victories in both domestic cups.
Aaron Mooy embarked on his professional football journey at Bolton before making his way to St Mirren in 2010, where he gained valuable experience playing his initial matches.
Following a return to his home country, Australia, for a span of four seasons, Mooy secured a transfer to Manchester City. However, despite his association with the club, he did not make any appearances for the first team.
Mooy represented his country Australia with distinction, earning 57 caps and playing a crucial role in their journey to the last-16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they were eventually defeated by the tournament’s eventual champions, Argentina.
One of the notable highlights in Mooy’s career came when he joined Huddersfield, contributing to their successful promotion to the Premier League in 2017. During their two-year tenure in the top flight, Mooy showcased his skills in 65 matches.
After his stint at Huddersfield, Mooy spent two seasons with Brighton before venturing to China in 2020 to continue his professional football career.