According to a report by the London Evening Standard on Thursday, October 29, 2026, former Arsenal striker Chuks Aneke has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 33, bringing an end to a career that saw him play for several clubs in England and Belgium.

Aneke confirmed his decision in a statement posted on his official Instagram account on Wednesday. He also shared a video compilation highlighting some of the most memorable moments from his football career.

In his farewell message, the former striker expressed appreciation to everyone who contributed to his journey, including coaches, club officials, teachers, friends, family members and supporters. He also acknowledged those who had not supported him, suggesting that both positive and difficult experiences helped shape his career.

Following his retirement, Aneke expressed excitement about starting a new chapter away from professional football. According to reports by Sports247, he is exploring opportunities in football scouting and television punditry, indicating that he hopes to remain connected to the game.

Aneke began his football career at Arsenal after joining the club's academy in 2001 at the age of seven. Having progressed through the youth system, he signed his first professional contract in July 2010 before making his senior debut in 2011. His first appearance came as a 90th-minute substitute against Shrewsbury Town in a League Cup encounter.

During his development at Arsenal, former manager Arsène Wenger compared him to Manchester City legend Yaya Touré because of his physical strength and technical abilities. However, after spending 13 years with the North London club, Aneke was released in June 2014.

He subsequently gained valuable experience through loan spells at Stevenage, Preston North End and Crewe Alexandra. His time at Crewe proved particularly successful, as he scored 24 goals in 82 appearances and helped the club secure a 2-0 victory over Southend United in the 2013 Football League Trophy final at Wembley Stadium.

The former Arsenal forward later moved to Belgium, where he spent two seasons with Zulte Waregem before returning to England to join MK Dons in August 2016.

Aneke became an important figure during MK Dons' promotion campaign, scoring 19 goals in the 2018–19 season as the club secured promotion from League Two.

His career subsequently included spells at Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City. He joined Charlton in 2019 before moving to Birmingham in 2021. However, he returned to Charlton in January 2022 and remained there until his departure in 2025, following the club's promotion to the Championship.

In September 2025, Aneke signed for Shrewsbury Town, where he made 15 appearances without starting a single match. His contract with the club was eventually terminated by mutual agreement in January, marking the end of his professional playing career.