Billy Sharp has announced his retirement at the age of 40, bringing to an end a career that began at boyhood club Sheffield United and saw him make 814 appearances for nine clubs across the EFL and a spell in the MLS.

He announced the news live on Sky Sports ahead of the South Coast derby between one of his former clubs, Southampton and Portsmouth. In a post on his Instagram profile on Sunday morning, Sharp said:

“At 40 years old, it’s time to say goodbye to the game that has given me so much. The boots are coming off, but the memories will last a lifetime.”

The forward proved to have a fairy-tale end to his career, with his final appearance coming on the final day of last season as he scored a hat-trick for Doncaster Rovers in a 3-1 win at Peterborough United.

Three Spells In South Yorkshire

Whilst Sharp played for a number of clubs throughout his career, he is most closely associated with Sheffield United. After coming through the club’s academy, he made his first team debut for the Blades in 2004 before a loan spell at League Two sides Rushden and Diamonds later that season. He returned to Bramall Lane for a second spell in 2007.

It was his third spell which proved to be his most successful, returning in 2015 after playing for five different clubs in the previous eight years. He enjoyed the second-best goalscoring season of his career in 2016-17 as the Blades stormed to the League One title with 100 points under Chris Wilder.

Two seasons later the club gained promotion to the Premier League after a runners-up finish in the Championship. Both promotions saw Sharp named in the respective division’s PFA Team of the Year. They also gained promotion in 2022-23, Sharp’s final season at the club.

Nomadic Period Between Sheffield Stints

Whilst contracted to Southampton between 2011 and 2014, the first season seeing Saints secure promotion to the Premier League, Sharp struggled for game time, which saw him sent out on three separate loan spells.

This included a season at Nottingham Forest in 2012-13 where he played 40 games, scoring 11 times in all competitions. The following season he had two separate loan spells; a third stint at Doncaster following 10 games at Reading. 

After leaving Saints permanently in the summer of 2014, he then returned to Yorkshire and spent a season at Leeds United, making 35 appearances. However, he was unable to gain a regular place in the side, making 17 starts in the Championship.

Unexpected Stint In America

In August 2023, Sharp’s career took a turn which may have taken people by surprise as he made the move to Major League Soccer and joined LA Galaxy, a side which at the time included Brazilian international Douglas Costa and former Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez.

He made his Galaxy debut as a substitute against Chicago Fire, getting on the scoresheet as he converted a penalty. The following month he netted a hat-trick against Minnesota United. In all he made 12 appearances in the United States, scoring six times.

Place In Championship History Assured

From his Sheffield United debut, Sharp spent almost his entire career in the Championship, representing six different clubs in the second tier of English football. His last appearance in the second tier came as a substitute for Hull City at Plymouth Argyle in May 2024.

He currently holds the record for the most goals in the Championship since the second tier was rebranded in 2004 with 130. The closest player to him still active in English football is Nakhi Wells with 111, although Wells is currently playing in League One with Luton Town.

Those goals have come from 397 second-tier appearances, a total which is only beaten by six players. Only time will tell what the future holds for Sharp now he’s hung up his boots, but his impact on the game has been considerable.