Aditi Chauhan announces retirement from professional football

Indian goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan announced her retirement from professional football on Wednesday after a career spanning 17 years.

“After 17 unforgettable years, I’m retiring from professional football with deep gratitude and pride,” she wrote in a post on social media.

Back in 2015, Aditi caught attention when she became the first Indian woman to play in the Women’s Super League in England when she signed with West Ham United.

“This game gave me more than just a career; it gave me an identity. From chasing a dream in Delhi to carving out my own path all the way to the UK, where I pursued my Master’s in Sports Management and played for West Ham United – I walked a road with no clear map. I never had to choose between education and passion. I fought hard to do both, and that balance has defined me,” she said.

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Despite the retirement, she said that she still has plenty left in the tank to give to the sport.

“As I now step into life beyond the pitch, I carry that belief with me – not as a player anymore, but as someone committed to building a stronger pathway and ecosystem for the next generation. My second half is about giving back to the game that gave me everything,” Aditi wrote.

“The formula remains the same: dream big, believe in yourself, and put in the work,” she concluded.