Former Celtic loanee Charly Musonda has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of just 28, bringing an end to a career that once promised so much.

Musonda’s time at Celtic came during Brendan Rodgers’ first spell in charge. The Belgian playmaker joined the Hoops on an 18-month loan deal from Chelsea in January 2018, with Rodgers famously stating that Celtic had beaten Real Madrid to secure his signature. Expectations were high, but Musonda struggled to make an impact during his brief stint in Glasgow.

He made his debut the day after signing, coming off the bench in a 3–1 win over Hearts at Celtic Park. His most memorable moment came in Europe, when he delivered a delicate assist for Callum McGregor’s winner against Zenit St Petersburg in the Europa League. However, with limited game time and a fierce battle for places in the Celtic midfield, his loan was cut short just five months later.

Musonda’s career was heavily disrupted by injuries, particularly a serious knee issue that sidelined him for over two years. He was never quite able to recover the spark that once made him one of Europe’s most highly regarded young talents.

Now stepping away from the game, Musonda takes with him the experience of a career that, while curtailed, saw him play at some of the continent’s biggest clubs. Good luck to him in whatever comes next.


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