JUST IN: Ex Chelsea midfielder retires from professional football
Former Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 33, bringing an early end to a career shaped by promise and long spells on the sidelines.
Van Ginkel joined Chelsea from Vitesse Arnhem in a deal worth around £8 million. The move was meant to push him to the top level of the game. Instead, his time in London turned into a long fight with injury. Serious knee problems followed him season after season and limited his chances to build momentum.
Despite spending eight years on Chelsea’s books, he made only four first team appearances. Each time he looked close to a breakthrough, another setback arrived. The club sent him out on several loan moves in search of rhythm and fitness. One of those spells came in the Premier League with Stoke City during the 2015 to 2016 season, though injuries again stopped him from settling.
After leaving Chelsea, Van Ginkel returned to the Netherlands and found more stability with PSV Eindhoven. There, he enjoyed a better run of games and played a key role during his healthier periods. He lifted domestic titles and showed the qualities which once made him one of the most talked about midfield prospects in Dutch football.
His retirement closes a chapter filled with frustration but also resilience. Van Ginkel stayed in the game longer than many expected, even when his body worked against him.
Van Ginkel steps away respected for his professionalism and persistence, even when the odds kept stacking up against him.
