Ex-Tottenham star Mousa Dembele clears up retirement confusion

Reports in Belgium on Tuesday claimed that the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder had decided to hang up his boots aged 34.

However, Dembele has confirmed on his Instagram that he hasn’t ‘stopped yet’, but will retire from professional football once his current contract expires.

The Belgian wrote: “Thank you for all the nice messages I have received.

“To clear up, I haven’t stopped yet. I still have a year on my contract left. But i can already share I will stop my career after this year is finished.”

Dembele joined Chinese side Guangzhou City in 2019 and is set to remain with the club until the end of his contract in January 2023.

Following the rumours of an early retirement for Dembele, Spurs praised their former midfielder on social media, calling him a ‘special talent’ and congratulating him on an ‘incredible career’.

The ex-Belgium international signed for Tottenham in August 2012 after the Premier League club triggered a £15 million release clause in his Fulham contract.

Dembele became one of the league’s best midfielders and a fan’s favourite at White Hart Lane - once described by Mauricio Pochettino as one of the ‘five geniuses’ he had worked worth.

He played a huge part in the Argentine’s successful tenure at the club before he made the switch to China seven years after his arrival.

Dembele has made only eight appearances in the Chinese Super League this season and is thought to be keen to return to Belgium to spend more time with his family.