Kyle Walker retires from international duty with England - 'It's about the memories'
Updated 10/03/2026 at 16:43 GMT
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Kyle Walker has announced his retirement from international duty in an emotional video message. The right-back won 96 caps for The Three Lions and last played for his country in June 2025. Walker was a regular for England under Gareth Southgate and is part of a select group of players to start in two finals for England, at UEFA EURO 2021 and EURO 2024.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Kyle Walker has announced his decision to retire from international duty, three months before the 2026 World Cup.
The 35-year-old has called time on his England career after winning 96 caps and appearing at five major tournaments.
Walker, who currently plays for Premier League side Burnley, earned his last cap in a friendly against Senegal at the City Ground in June 2025, and has lost his place under Thomas Tuchel.
"It's the memories," Walker said. "You don't dream of playing for England. You can dream of playing for your boyhood club, Sheffield United, and thinking maybe that's possible.
"You can dream of winning the Premier League, it's possible. But to play for your country, there aren't many people who get to do that.
"It comes with great pride that I'm announcing my international retirement. Some of you will be buzzing, some might be a little bit sad."
"To represent my country at five major tournaments, to get to the finals that we've reached and to be surrounded by this England team, especially the players and the managers that I've had the privilege of working under, has been a great honour.
"Today is the time that comes to an end. It's good for me to have a little bit of closure to my career on the international stage."
Walker earned his debut cap in 2011 in a 1-0 win over Spain and called the past 15 years a "whirlwind of a journey" and thanked all the England managers he played under.
"I would just like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the managers that I've worked under, from Fabio Capello, to Roy Hodgson, to Lee Carsley, to Gareth Southgate and to Thomas, for making a dream become reality," he added.
"Thank you to all of my team mates, past and present, and I wish everyone all the best.
"And to the fans, thank you for the support over the years. Keep supporting the lads, they need you guys, they need you behind them to make sure that they can do this country proud.
He became a regular for The Three Lions and has enjoyed a storied club career with Sheffield United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
He played for England at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and the European Championships in 2016, 2021 and 2024, and started in finals at the latter two tournaments.
Walker scored his sole international goal in a 1-1 draw with Ukraine in September 2023 and captained the side for the first time two months later in another 1-1 draw with North Macedonia.
Despite returning to the Premier League this season, he lost his place in the squad and his retirement ends his chances of going to this summer’s World Cup in the United States.
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Tuchel led tributes to Walker and congratulated him on an "incredible international career."
The England boss said: "Although I only worked with him for a short period of time, I was always aware that he was one of England’s greats who fully embraced the highest honour of representing his country.
"An international career spanning 14 years and five major tournament is testament to Kyle’s dedication. He can look back on his time with the Three Lions with great pride."
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