Ex Man City & England star Izzy Christiansen will RETIRE aged 31

Izzy Christiansen has announced that she will retire at the end of the current season, bringing an end to a hugely successful career in football.

The Everton midfielder returned to the Toffees in 2020, having spent time at the club as a youth player, before departing for Birmingham City, Manchester City and Lyon.

She also went on to make 31 appearances for her country, and was part of the SheBelieves Cup-winning side of 2019.

During her time at Lyon Christiansen - alongside Barcelona's England star Lucy Bronze - won a Treble including the Champions League, French League and French Cup.

The midfielder announced her decision to end her playing career on her Three Players And A Podcast programme, but was certain that she had made the right decision despite being just 31 years old.

'It's been on my mind since the start of the season because I knew my contract was finishing with Everton,' she said.

'I thought it might be on the horizon and I just wanted to enjoy the year and give myself a position where I'm ready to make the right decision come now.

'Since 2019, I've been working really hard on the media side of things, analysing football, data and to try to deliver decent punditry or radio commentary. I feel like I've really grown in that. It's been like handling two jobs at times which hasn't been easy. The place where I've got myself to now is 150 per cent the right decision.

'The way I look at it is a crossroads and wanting to go forwards, not sideways. The best advice I've ever been given which always stuck with me, and I've said this to a couple of younger players in my team, "never live the same year twice".

'I felt by staying in the game, I'd just be repeating another year. I felt there was so many opportunities ahead.

'I'm super excited and thankful for all the opportunities I've been given during my playing career by teams, coaches, the international set-up, I feel like I've done everything. Loved it. Now's the time for me to move on.'

Christiansen's final game will come against former club Man City at the weekend, with the WSL season coming to a close.

During her time with the Citizens, the 31-year-old won the WSL, Women's FA Cup and two Conti Cups in a fruitful four-year spell in the North West.

But it was also a hugely successful period for her personally, winning the OFA Player of the Year award.

And Christiansen admitted that it was the best phase of her career, ensuring it will be a fitting end for her to take on the Citizens in her final ever WSL appearance.

'My time at Man City was definitely the best of my career. We play Man City away on Saturday which is a really fitting ending. I'm going to finish my career on some grass where we had so many fond memories.'

Christiansen has managed to carve out a promising career in the media alongside her playing duties, but has also begun her UEFA B coaching course, and is therefore likely to remain involved in the game to some extent after hanging up her boots.