Ben Foster announces retirement aged 39 after Watford exit

Ben Foster has announced his retirement from the game following his departure from Watford at the end of last season.

The goalkeeper has hung up his gloves at the age of 39.

Foster took to his YouTube channel to announce the news this afternoon (see below):

He parted company with the Hornets following their relegation to the Championship and has since been a free agent.

End of an era

Foster made 536 appearances throughout his playing career and spent the majority of it in the top flight.

He was snapped up by Manchester United as a youngster in 2005 and had a couple of loan spells at Watford from Old Trafford.

The ex-England international, who got eight caps under his belt, played 23 times for the Red Devils and won the League Cup twice under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Foster then had spells at Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion in the Midlands before moving back to Vicarage Road in 2018.

He made 126 appearances for the Hertfordshire outfit over the past four years and played a key role in their promotion from the second tier in 2021.

However, the stopper has now made the decision to retire after spending the past couple of months weighing up his next move.