Kyle Walker says he is 'at ease' with decision to retire from England
Kyle Walker said he was "at ease" with his decision to retire from England while speaking at the English Football League season media launch at the National Football Museum in Manchester on Wednesday, and added he hoped the move could extend his club career.
Walker, who turned 36 in May, announced his England retirement in March after earning 96 caps — the most for any England right-back — and featuring at five major tournaments, including the European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024 and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
On the reasoning behind his choice, Walker said: "Decisions in life you stand on what you do," and added: "It was a difficult decision but one I'm more at ease with now. It was something I wanted to do and felt it was right. I spent a lot of years with England representing my country that I was very grateful for." He said the decision was collaborative with his family and not taken by him alone.
Asked whether he had retired too early after being left out of squads by Thomas Tuchel, Walker replied: "no, definitely not" and later said: "He [Tuchel] could've always called me and I would've represented my country, but he decided not to and that's how it goes. I was not expecting a call because I was retired." He also noted: "The way the squad and injuries fell, maybe I might have been in with a shout but I was not to foresee that."
England finished third in this summer's tournament in North America, where injuries to Reece James and Tino Livramento forced midfielder Declan Rice to fill in as an emergency right-back and saw central defenders Ezri Konsa and Jarell Quansah also deputise; Walker referenced the available options, saying: "It was Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tino Livramento, so I was not leaving them spare, so I could enjoy some family time."
Walker listed his club achievements and immediate plans, saying he had won six Premier League titles and the Champions League with Manchester City before joining Burnley at the start of the 2025-26 campaign; he played in 36 of the Clarets' 38 top-flight games that season and said he hoped stepping away from international football would prolong his club career. He invoked James Milner as an example, noting Milner won 61 caps for England before retiring from internationals in 2016 at the age of 30, went on to play top-flight football for another 10 years, set the record for the most appearances in the Premier League era and retired aged 40 at the end of last season after a spell at Brighton. Walker said: "I will take it season by season," and added: "I'm 36 and will be 37 at the end of the season and I will see how I feel and how my body holds up. I still feel good and still feel I'm playing at a good level. You look at someone like James Milner and how long he went on in his career. He retired very early [from England] and went on to achieve great things in football so hopefully I can follow in his footsteps."
Burnley, who were relegated from the Premier League, begin their Championship campaign at home on Sunday, 16 August against West Ham; Walker said he will assess his condition as the season progresses and take each year as it comes.
