Manchester United academy graduate James Chester has announced his retirement from football at the age 36.
The Warrington-born centre-back joined United's academy aged eight and signed his first professional contact at Old Trafford in July 2007. He was awarded his debut for the first-team by Sir Alex Ferguson in January 2009, appearing as a second half substitute as United beat Derby County 4-2 in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final at Old Trafford.
That marked Chester's only appearance in a United shirt and he left the club in 2011 following a cluster of loan spells. He joined Hull City on a permanent deal and spent four seasons in East Yorkshire, helping them reach the 2014 FA Cup final.
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He later had spells with West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa and Stoke City before dropping down into League One to join Derby County in 2022. He then spent the 2023/24 season at Barrow before moving to Salford City last summer.
Announcing his retirement on Instagram, Chester posted: "After 18 years as a professional footballer and over 500 games, the time has come for me to announce my retirement. It's been an incredible journey, filled with unforgettable moments, amazing teammates, fantastic staff, and unwavering support at every club I've played for.
"I'm incredibly proud of everything I've achieved in the game, and now I'm excited to see what next my life brings next. I'll remain part of the Salford City squad until the end of the season, where I'll continue learning about the other aspects of football. Thank you all for everything."
Chester has battled against injury issues this season, limiting him to just two appearances for the Ammies.
