Sheffield United legend Billy Sharp has announced his retirement from football at the age of 40.

Sharp, who played for Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Hull City, Scunthorpe United, Reading, Doncaster Rovers and Rushden & Diamonds during a 22-year professional career, during which he scored 299 goals.

He had been a free agent since leaving Doncaster at the end of last season, when he signed off in style in his final game with a hat-trick against Peterborough.

“I’m going to hang my boots up. I’ve given it a good ride. I’ve got a long way, got to 40,” Sharp told Sky Sports.

“I wanted to go out on my own terms. I’ve seen many friends get taken away by injury and things like that.

“I wanted to go out with a bang and luckily for me, I got a hat-trick in my last appearance.

“I’m maybe not the most talented player, maybe not the most liked on the pitch but that’s because I love football. I’m passionate and I think I’ve got every single bit out of my career.

“I’ve made memories in football that will last me a lifetime.”

A boyhood Blades supporter, Sharp made his Championship debut off the bench against Watford in November 2004.

He went on to become club captain and an important figure in three promotion-winning campaigns – from League One in 2017 and the Championship in 2019 and 2023.

In three spells with Sheffield United, Sharp scored 129 goals for the club and became a Blades icon.

He was also part of the Southampton side that won promotion to the Premier League in 2012.

He enjoyed a brief stay in the MLS with LA Galaxy in 2023, after which many thought retirement loomed – but the ageless Sharp returned to his native Yorkshire to extend his career, firstly with Hull and then Doncaster Rovers.

Sharp scored a dramatic late winner against Bradford City to secure promotion to League One for Rovers in 2025 before his spectacular ending to last season which meant he had scored EFL hat-tricks in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He did score a fourth against Peterborough which would have taken him to 300 career goals but it was ruled out for offside.

“It would have been lovely to have got that 300th goal on that day but I’ve had an unbelievable career,” he said.

Sharp has joined Baller League team N5, which is led by former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann to play six-a-side football but he also has one eye on management having completed his coaching badges.