Adel Taarabt, former Benfica midfielder, retires from football aged 37 | OneFootball

Adel Taarabt has announced his retirement from professional football at 37. The Moroccan midfielder, a former Benfica player, confirmed the decision on Tuesday, having long been noted for his technical flair.

The player said in a post that he had known this day would come and that it was time to close the chapter. He reflected on football being a major part of his life, bringing unforgettable memories and people, and he thanked every club, coach, team-mate, staff member and supporter along the way.

Formed at Lens, where he made his senior debut in 2007/08, Taarabt went on to play in England for Tottenham, Queens Park Rangers and Fulham. He also featured in Italy with Milan and later in the United Arab Emirates with Al Nasr.

He was contracted to Benfica from 2015/16 to 2021/22, spending 2016 to 2018 on loan at Genoa. For the Lisbon side he made 139 appearances, winning the 2018/19 league title and the 2019 Supertaça.

Al Sharjah was his final club, in 2025/26, and his last official appearance came in November 2025. He underwent surgery in Porto at the end of last year for an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Source: Glorioso 1904

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