Theo Walcott opens up on decision to turn down offers from Saudi Arabia before retiring

Theo Walcott has opened up on his decision to turn down offers from Saudi Arabia before retiring from football at the age of 34.

The former Arsenal, Everton and Southampton winger, who won 47 England caps, has called time on his 18-year professional career having made 563 club appearances.

Speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap, an emotional Walcott opened about a number of subjects, including how he wasn't prepared for the paparazzi at such a young age and going to the World Cup at 17.

He also announced his retirement in a touching segment. “I’m officially going to be hanging up my boots," he said. "It’s very scary, I can’t lie. It’s scary because football’s all I’ve known, from the age of 16 or even younger."

You can watch that moment form The Overlap YouTube channel below:

As you can see in the footage above, Walcott opens up about his decision to hang up his boots, despite making 24 appearances for Southampton last season.

"I want to try new things – I never experienced certain things when I was a kid because I was thrust into some world without a choice," he said.

"It was just beyond talent and hunger, and I missed out on a lot. I’m not saying I’m going to be doing some mad stuff, but I feel like I want to experience life, you know? Everything has revolved around football for me, and now it [still] does, but it can also look somewhere else as well.”

The former Arsenal forward also confirmed offers from Saudi Arabia. A number of big names have joined the Saudi project this summer, including Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez.

But Walcott explained why he decided against the move.

“I had some offers abroad, and at some very good Championship teams. There’s been some Saudi offers, but that’s not where I want to see myself playing," he said.

"Nothing against the money or the league – I just feel like right now if my heart’s not into playing football, then it’s not fair on the clubs and not fair on me.

"I’m not going to earn myself a contract when I’m not going to be putting 100% - it just doesn’t sit pretty with me.

Image credit: Getty

Walcott added: “It’s not that I’ve fallen out of love with the game – it’s just that my heart’s not going to be fully committed to playing week in week out, training and doing a pre-season again.

"That’s okay with me – there’s a lot of people that will feel like I’ve got a lot to do, and I was playing at the end of the season. I did, I was in the team, but I kind of like the fact that I’ve stopped at Southampton. I started it and stopped there, so it sits nice for me, and my last ever goal was against Arsenal.

"For me – no one else – but for me, it’s a nice moment, and I’m proud of that.”

After confirming he is in a "different part" of his life now, the former England international wants to try something new.

“I would like to [go into media], we’ll see," said Walcott. "I do enjoy that side of it, I enjoy analysing the games, analysing the teams, and as well, I have a different insight into the generations, I’ve played in your generation as well, which is slightly older than myself.”

Theo Walcott was speaking on The Overlap, in partnership with Sky Bet