Former Nigeria international striker Brown Ideye has officially retired from professional football at the age of 36, bringing to a close a career that spanned nearly two decades across Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Ideye made the announcement on Tuesday night via his official X account, saying: “After much thought and consideration with mixed emotions, I’ve decided to retire from professional football.”

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner thanked God, his family, teammates, coaches, agents, journalists, and fans for their support throughout his career. He added:

“To every club I’ve had the honour of wearing their jersey and representing, every coach and teammate who pushed and rooted for me to be better, and every fan who supported me through highs and lows — thank you. Thank you, Nigeria, for the opportunity you gave me to wear the national colour and be among the Super Eagles.”
Ideye made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2010 in a 2-1 friendly loss to South Korea. He played a key role in Nigeria’s 2013 AFCON triumph under the late Stephen Keshi and also represented the country at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. His last appearance for the national team came in 2016.

At the club level, Ideye played in several top leagues across Europe and Asia. His career included stints with Neuchâtel Xamax (Switzerland), Sochaux (France), Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine), West Bromwich Albion (England), Olympiacos (Greece), Tianjin Teda (China), Málaga (Spain, loan), Aris Thessaloniki (Greece), Göztepe (Turkey), and Al-Yarmouk (Kuwait). He concluded his club career with Nigeria’s Enyimba FC, playing his last official match in May 2025 against Plateau United in Aba.

Ideye competed in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Premier League, and CAF Confederation Cup, winning league titles in Greece and a cup title in Ukraine.

Reflecting on his career, Ideye said: “Though my time as a pro-player has come to an end, football will always be a part of my life as I enter my next chapter. Thank you all for being a part of this journey, and I look forward to still seeing you on these football streets.”