Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 30.

Wilshere made the announcement in a statement on Friday, via his social media channels, stating that he had lived his dream.

“Today I am announcing my retirement from playing professional football. It has been an unbelievable journey filled with so many incredible moments and I feel privileged to have experienced all that I did during my career.

“From being the little boy kicking a ball around in the garden to captaining my beloved Arsenal and playing for my country at a World Cup. I have lived my dream,” Wilshere said in the statement.

I’ve lived my dream. Thank you all

The England midfielder made his Three Lions debut in 2010 at age 18 and went on to win 34 international caps.

Despite being named the PFA Young Player of the Year at the end of the 2010-11 season but missed the entirety of the next Premier League season, beginning an extended period blighted by injury.

A boyhood West Ham fan, Wilshere joined The Gunners in 2018 and had spells at Bournemouth.

After recovering from another spell of injury layoff, he last represented AGF in the Danish Superliga, where he appeared 14 times for the side.

Earlier in the week, the club confirmed that they would not be renewing Wilshere’s contract.