German midfielder Demme has announced his retirement; he won the Serie A title with Napoli.

Diego Demme announced on Thursday that he is officially ending his nearly 16-year professional career. He had been unemployed since leaving Hertha Berlin in July when his contract expired.

In his retirement statement, Demme wrote: "There will always be a moment when you have to say goodbye to something that has been with you for almost your whole life. Now, that moment has finally come to me."

“When I was a child, I dreamed of one day playing on the football field. At that time, I simply wanted to play football. Eventually, I did achieve that dream. I have experienced important games and achieved great success, but I have also experienced failures, setbacks and difficult moments. They have shaped me and made me who I am today.”

"I am writing these words with a touch of sadness as I look back on my career. I realize that I have been fortunate enough to experience a wonderful football story."

"For me, football is much more than a job. It's my life, my passion, my daily routine—it's allowed me to meet many outstanding people and create countless unforgettable moments."

"I will always love football."

"Thank you to everyone who has been with me along the way. Thank you to my family, friends, teammates, coaches, club, and everyone who has been a part of this journey."

“I also want to give special thanks to Alex Secora. He helped me stay at my best for most of my career and was there for me through countless highs and lows.”

The 34-year-old Demme primarily plays as a defensive midfielder. He made his debut for Arminia Bielefeld in the 2. Bundesliga on December 4, 2010. He subsequently played for Paderborn, RB Leipzig, and Napoli, before playing his final professional match for Hertha Berlin.

To date, Demme has made 430 appearances at the club level, scoring 7 goals and providing 28 assists. His greatest achievements during this period are undoubtedly winning one Serie A title and one Coppa Italia title with Napoli.

At the national team level, Demme has only made one appearance for Germany so far. As a fringe international, he has failed to score or assist.

Image source: Internet