Valère Germain announces retirement after 2017 Monaco title triumph | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, the 35-year-old announced on Canal+ show Late Football Club on Friday that he is retiring from football.

The son of Bruno, a former PSG and OM professional, he joined Monaco aged 15 from Châteauroux. He progressed through the ranks and was central to the 2016-17 side that won the French title and reached the Champions League semi-finals nine years ago.

He shared the attack with Radamel Falcao and Kylian Mbappé that year. Known as an intelligent, selfless forward and a symbol of Monaco’s development, he then signed a four-year deal with OM, staying from 2017 to 2021. Two years earlier, Monaco had loaned him to Nice for 2015-16 under Claude Puel.

His time at Marseille brought mixed fortunes and he never fully established himself. He spent two seasons at Montpellier between 2021 and 2023, then left Europe. He played for Macarthur Football club in Sydney from 2023 to 2025, before joining FC Sanfrecce Hiroshima, where he finished his career in 2025.

He said he had been considering the step for several weeks and was now confirming it. He reflected on the good fortune and effort behind a fine career and a remarkable family experience in recent years, and said it was time to move on.

Source: L'Équipe