Samuel Umtiti, on the verge of retirement at 31 years old

Samuel Umtiti, world champion with France in 2018 and former player of Fútbol Club Barcelona, is going through a decisive moment in his career. The French center-back, 31 years old, has been without a team since his contract with Lille ended and is very seriously considering the possibility of hanging up his boots prematurely.

According to the French newspaper L'Équipe, Umtiti had set September 10, 2025 as the deadline to announce whether he would continue to be active or end his professional career. However, three days later he has not yet announced his final decision, which increases the uncertainty about his future.

Samuel Umtiti: a world champion conditioned by injuries

The French defender has seen how his knee problems, which he has been suffering from for several seasons, have reduced his performance and minimized his chances of finding a competitive sports project. These ailments have conditioned practically his entire stage after his time at Barça.

Umtiti arrived at Camp Nou in 2016 from Olympique de Lyon, the club where he trained and debuted as a professional in 2012. During his first seasons at the Blaugrana club, he established himself as one of the most reliable defenders in Europe, earning an undisputed place both at Barça and in the French national team.

From Lyon to Barça, with a stopover in Lecce and Lille

After his departure from Fútbol Club Barcelona, where he played until 2022, Umtiti experienced a loan spell at Italian Lecce, where he was able to regain some continuity. Later, he signed for Lille in Ligue 1, although his stay at the French club was brief and marked by his recurring physical problems.

Now, with the market closed and without a team, the prospect of continuing to play at the highest level is complicated, which pushes the center-back to consider retirement definitively.

An early and surprising retirement

Umtiti's possible farewell at the age of 31 is surprising because he is a footballer who, in full physical condition, had the conditions to stay at the elite for several more seasons. However, the injuries have precipitated an unexpected situation for a player who was a protagonist in the conquest of the 2018 World Cup in Russia with France.

The final decision of the center-back has not yet been made public, although in France they take it for granted that the announcement will arrive in the next few days. If he confirms his retirement, he will put an end to a career that, despite the frustration due to injuries, leaves titles of great prestige such as LaLiga and the Copa del Rey with Barça, in addition to the world championship with his national team.

Umtiti: balance of his time at FC Barcelona

During his six seasons at the Catalan club, Umtiti played more than 130 official matches with the Blaugrana shirt, lifting two LaLiga titles, three Copas del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups. His partnership with Gerard Piqué was key in some of the best recent defensive years of Barça.

Statistics of Samuel Umtiti at Fútbol Club Barcelona:

SOURCE: Transfermarkt

However, from 2018, the discomfort in his left knee limited his continuity and gradually relegated him to a secondary role, until forcing his departure in search of prominence in other leagues.

The uncertain future of Samuel Umtiti

Although he has not yet made his decision public, everything indicates that Samuel Umtiti is closer to saying goodbye to football than to extending his career. His case reflects the harshness of chronic injuries and how they can condition the professional life of an elite player.

We will have to wait for his official statement in the next few days, but the truth is that the French center-back seems to have reached the end of his road on the playing fields.

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