Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has announced he will retire from professional football at the end of the season.
The 36-year-old released a statement on Twitter on Tuesday, revealing he will hang up his gloves when his contract expires in the summer.
He wrote: “This is my 20th season as a professional player and it is 20 years since I signed my first professional contract, so it feels like the right time to announce that I will retire at the end of this season.”
The Czech, who arrived in the Premier League with Chelsea in 2004 and moved to Arsenal in 2015, continued: “Having played 15 years in the Premier League and won every single trophy possible. I feel like I have achieved everything I set out to achieve. I will continue to work hard at Arsenal to hopefully win one more trophy this season, then I am looking forward to seeing what life holds for me off the pitch.”
Cech has made 129 appearances for the Gunners.
Arsenal now needs to sign a replacement for the Czech international.
Bernd Leno signed for Arsenal in the summer and has made 16 Premier League appearances for the club and has kept just one clean sheet.
Arsenal will look to sign a backup goalkeeper or if they will look for a genuine challenger for Bernd Leno.
So, who are the possible options for the Gunners come to the start of the 2019/20 season?
Jack Butland
Тhe 25-year-old was once considered England’s future and will be looking to move back to the Premier League from Stoke City. In the summer, the club slapped a £30million price tag on Butland.
Jan Oblak
Atletico Madrid number one said he would like to one day play in the Premier League. However, he decided to stay in Spain, when Chelsea activated the £90million release clause in his contract in the summer.
Samir Handanovic
The Inter Milan goalkeeper could be heading for the exit in the summer. The 34-year-old kept 17 clean sheets in 43 games last season.
Gianluigi Donnarumma
The AC Milan number one has made 144 appearances for the Italian club. However, the 19-year-old’s relationship with the Milan fans has been difficult with supporters reducing him to tears in December 2017 when they unfurled a banner telling him to leave the club.
Keylor Navas
Arsenal were said to be leading the race for the Real Madrid goalkeeper with reports of a €13million bid imminent. Navas has found first-team chances limited after they signed Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea.
