Swansea midfielder Leon Britton to retire at the end of the season

Swansea City icon Leon Britton will retire at the end of the season.

The midfielder, 35, has made 536 appearances for the Swans since initially joining from West Ham United in 2002 on a one-month loan.

In two spells with the club over more than 15 years, Britton helped the Welsh side avoid relegation from the Football League and then win three promotions.

He was part of the side that won Swansea's first major honour, the 2013 League Cup.

Britton, who played in all four divisions for Swansea, also spent a two-game spell as caretaker manager before Carlos Carvalhal's appointment in December.

It is thought the fan favourite has made the call having struggled to overcome a succession of niggling injuries. The decision was made some time ago and before Swansea's likely relegation to the Championship was all-but confirmed.

The playmaker has only featured once - in an FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday - since Carvalhal's arrival, having stood down from a player-coach role when the Portuguese took over.

Britton's contract expires at the end of the campaign and he has not made enough appearances to trigger an automatic extension.

It is believed the decision to quit playing has been made by the player who has been told he can have a coaching role at the club, though Britton is currently considering his options.

It brings an end to a remarkable career for a player who was once the most expensive schoolboy in British football, when Harry Redknapp paid £400,000 to take the Lilleshall graduate to Upton Park from Arsenal.

Britton was signed by then Swansea manager Brian Flynn on loan from Premier League West Ham, with the Swans struggling at the foot of League Two in December 2002.

He went on to play 25 times - including in a crucial final-day victory over Hull City, winning a penalty in the process - that preserved Swansea's Football League status.

Britton was signed permanently that summer following contributions towards his wages by fans in a Swansea Supporters Trust initiative labelled 'The Battle for Britton'.

The popular figure - who has played under 11 permanent and two caretaker managers during his time at the Vetch Field and the Liberty - went on to win promotion to League One in 2005 and then the Championship in 2008 before leaving for Sheffield United as a free agent in 2010.

But he returned under Brendan Rodgers six months later as Swansea won promotion to the Premier League.

Britton also featured in the club's Football League Trophy win in 2006 and started in their League Cup triumph in 2013, playing in their run to the Europa League last 32 the following season.