Samuel Umtiti has decided to put an end to his football career at 31. The French central, who was without a team since he finished his contract with Lille, has made this decision after dragging serious knee problems in recent times and fails to find a new club.
Formed at the Olympique de Lyon, where he signed his first professional contract in 2012, Umiti made the leap to FC Barcelona on July 14, 2016 to reinforce the defense of the team directed by Luis Enrique. The French Defense of Cameroonian origin lived in the Camp Nou his most outstanding stage as a professional.
In six seasons as Barça with 23 on the back, Umtiti became the fifth French soccer player with more games played with Barça, with a total of 134 appearances. During this period he scored two goals in La Liga (2016/17 and 2017/18) and raised up to seven titles: two leagues (2017/18 and 2018/19), three cups of the King (2016/17, 2017/18 and 2020/21) and two Super Cups of Spain (2016/17 and 2018/19). In addition, in those years he also touched the sky with the French team, proclaiming world champion in 2018 in Russia.
After his stage at Barça, the Central militated in the Italian Lecce and in the French Ligue 1 Lille, before being free last summer. Now, with only 31 years, he has decided to retire from professional football, ending a trajectory marked both for successes and injuries.