OFFICIAL: Samuel Umtiti announces his professional retirement at 31
Published New:15/09/2025 - 19:45h
Updated New:15/09/2025 - 20:24h
Samuel Umtiti confirmed the rumors about his professional retirement on Monday. Through an emotional video, the 31-year-old defender confirmed that he will hang up his boots after failing to find a team in the summer
Samuel Umtiti's retirement from professional football is official. As we had anticipated in FCBN, the French international, 2018 Russia World Cup winner and former FC Barcelona defender, decided to end his professional career at just 31 years old, after several seasons battling knee injuries and a market where no European club wanted him.
The Yaoundé native underwent new surgery on his left knee in February 2024, an operation from which he never managed to recover. The defender missed practically the entire 24/25 season due to injury, returning in May for the last three Ligue 1 matchdays with Lille.
However, he didn't even play minutes with what was his last club. 'Big Sam' joined the French team in the summer of 2023, after terminating his contract with Barça. The Frenchman had three years remaining on his contract with the *culés*, but finally agreed to his release after a good loan season at Lecce.
Umtiti's left knee never recovered after the Russia World Cup
In 22/23, Umtiti seemed to leave his injury ordeal behind in Italy, after playing 25 games (2,116 minutes). However, after returning to his country with Lille, his knee problems, his Achilles heel since the summer of 2018, reappeared.
"I shut myself in. I didn't want to go out with my friends. I didn't want to go out in Barcelona because of the injuries. I don't know if it was depression, but it's true that I shut myself in," the central defender said in a chat with 'L'Equipe' remembering his last years with the *azulgranas*.
Samuel arrived in Catalonia in 2016 from Lyon, in exchange for 25 million euros. Although he managed to play 83 games in his first two seasons (16/17, 17/18), in the following four years (2018-2022) he barely accumulated 50 official appearances. In total, he was out for 512 days with the *culés*, resolving his loan to Lecce in the summer of 2022.
In Russia 2018, the defender started in 6 of the 7 games with France, playing 540 minutes. After starting the 18/19 season as a starter, he got injured at the end of September and, since then, his left knee never fully recovered.
Samuel Umtiti's statistics at FC Barcelona:
| Season | GP | MP | Goals | Assists | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-17 | 43 | 3,729 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 17-18 | 40 | 3,539 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 18-19 | 15 | 1,269 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 19-20 | 18 | 1,319 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 20-21 | 16 | 830 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 21-22 | 1 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 133 | 10,776 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 1 |
- SOURCE: Transfermarkt
- GP: Games Played MP: Minutes Played YC: Yellow Cards RC: Red Cards
Umtiti bids farewell to football in Lyon, his home
The Yaoundé native won three Leagues, two Copa del Rey, and two Spanish Super Cups with Barça. Previously, he had lifted a French Cup and a French Super Cup with Lyon. In recent days, Samuel Umtiti was seen at the club's headquarters, and many speculated about his possible return.
However, 'Big Sam' only went to the Parc Olympique Lyonnais to record his farewell video, which garnered over 50,000 'likes' and 1,900 comments in just one hour. Former Barça players, such as Andrés Iniesta, Sergi Roberto, and Nelson Semedo, left their messages of affection for the former French international.
After an intense career with ups and downs, the time has come to say goodbye...
I gave EVERYTHING with passion and I regret NOTHING.
I want to thank all the clubs, presidents, coaches, and players I had the opportunity to work with.
And thanks to all the fans for their support
Umtiti arrived at the Lyon academy in 2009. In 2012, he made the leap to the first team, with which he played 170 official matches, scoring 5 goals and providing 3 assists. With Barça, he also celebrated a couple of goals, against Celta (5-0) and Valencia (2-1), both in the League.
