Samu Castillejo hangs up his boots at 31 after a Milan and Johor spell

Samu Castillejo, former Spanish player of Málaga, Villarreal, Valencia and Milan, announced this Saturday his retirement from professional football at 31 years old via a video on his social media, after having finished the last season without a club following his stint with Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia.

The beginnings and the jump to Villarreal

The Málaga native made his first‑team debut for Málaga at 19 years old in the 2014‑2015 season, playing 39 matches, scoring one goal and providing five assists. That performance sparked Villarreal's interest, which paid eight million euros for his transfer the following season.

After his spell at Villarreal, he continued his career at Valencia before moving to Italy, where he signed for Milan.

Successes and figures in Serie A

At Milan, Castillejo amassed 113 appearances, scored ten goals and delivered fifteen assists, and was part of the team that won the scudetto under Stefano Pioli between 2018 and 2022.

He later played for Sassuolo during the 2023/24 season, before spending the last two seasons in Malaysia with Johor Darul Ta'zim.

According to one source, he finished his career with 412 matches and 49 goals; another indicates he logged 330 appearances in professional competitions.

In the posted message, Castillejo said: "Caro calcio, after a long journey the time has come to say goodbye. Football has been my passion, my way of life and the dream of my childhood. Thanks to teammates, coaches, clubs and fans who have helped me grow as a person".

His retirement closes a career that began in Málaga's youth ranks and took him to the main stages of Europe and Asia.