Fabio Borini Retires After Career With Liverpool, Milan and Italy
Fabio Borini has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35, bringing an end to a career that took him from Bologna’s academy to the Premier League, Serie A and the Italy national team.
The former Liverpool, Sunderland and AC Milan forward confirmed the decision in a social-media statement on Wednesday, shortly after his Salford City contract expired on June 30.
A career that began with a teenage move to Chelsea
- Borini started in Bologna’s youth system before joining Chelsea in 2007 as a 16-year-old.
- He later returned to Italy, where his form with Roma established him as one of the country’s notable young forwards.
- Liverpool paid €13.3 million to sign him in the summer of 2012, the same year he made his only senior appearance for Italy.
- His time in England also included Swansea City and a loan at Sunderland, before Sunderland made his move permanent in 2015.
- He went on to play for Parma, AC Milan and Hellas Verona, as well as Fatih Karagumruk in Turkey and Sampdoria in Serie B.
- Borini’s final club was League Two side Salford City, where his deal ended at the close of June.
Borini thanks football as playing chapter closes
Reflecting on the move to Chelsea that launched his senior career, Borini said he remembered flying to London in tears, uncertain of where his ambitions would take him.
He described building his dreams from that moment and said he had managed to turn them into reality through determination, sacrifice and belief. The forward added that he now feels many of the same emotions — including fear, happiness, courage and uncertainty — as he begins life without playing.
“Thank you, football,” was the central message of his farewell, with Borini also thanking the younger version of himself for never giving up on his ambitions.
Liverpool sent their good wishes to their former striker following the announcement.
What happens next
Borini has not confirmed his next role, but his statement indicated that he intends to pursue a new opportunity while remaining driven by the same belief that carried him through his playing career. Coaching, media work or an executive position could be among the options as he considers his future away from the pitch.
