Former Burnley winger Aaron Lennon has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35.

Lennon came through the ranks at Leeds United before joining Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2005.

He went on to make more than 350 appearances for the London club during a memorable 10-year spell at White Hart Lane.

The wideman headed to Everton in 2015, initially on loan before making the move permanent several months later.

He also featured on the international stage, representing England at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups in Germany and South Africa respectively.

Lennon initially joined Burnley in 2018 and went on to make more than 50 appearances for the Clarets before heading overseas with Turkish club Kayserispor.

He returned to Turf Moor in the summer of 2021 and scored twice, including a superb strike against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

However, the experienced wideman was one of a plethora of players released over the summer following relegation from the Premier League.

He has since been without a club and feels now is the right time to step away from the professional game after nearly two decades.

Lennon wrote on his Twitter page: “I’ve finally decided that the time is right to hang my boots up. Having weighed up my options, I didn’t feel any were right for me and my young family.

“It has been a very tough decision as football has been my life since probably the age of three and the last 20 years, playing professionally at the very top, has been so amazing. I’ve loved every minute of it!

“Football means so much to me and always will do. I don’t think I even realised how much until I started considering this retirement, it has been everything and more.”

He added: “Now I’m very excited for this next chapter in my life and spending a lot more time with my loved ones.

“There is so much I want to do and give back with all my experiences on and off the pitch and will be doing so in the near future.”

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