Josephine Henning has announced her retirement from football at the age of just 28 due to injury.

The German, who only returned to Arsenal at the start of last season, spent most of last season sidelined with injury.

Arsenal made the decision to let her go at the end of the season but the truth is they appear to have no choice in the matter, given how serious the problem must be that it’s brought an end to her playing career.

Taking to Instagram, Henning said,

Was für eine Zeit! Diesen Sommer werde ich meine Karriere als Profi-Fußballerin beenden. Für mich ist jetzt der richtige Zeitpunkt gekommen, all’ die schönen Momente zu realisieren. Ich fühle eine unglaublich große Dankbarkeit wenn ich zurück blicke und schätze mich sehr glücklich, solch eine Unterstützung in den vergangenen Jahren bekommen zu haben. Ich habe das Privileg gehabt, meinen Traum verwirklichen zu dürfen, was nicht selbstverständlich ist. Wenn ich eine Sache weitergeben dürfte, dann wäre es, dass wir alles schaffen können, wenn wir an uns glauben. Der Sport wird immer ein Teil meines Lebens bleiben, aber jetzt bin ich gespannt, in welche Richtung meine Reise weiter gehen wird. Vielen Dank für all’ die tollen Begegnungen und Erfahrungen, die ich mit euch machen durfte. Was für eine Zeit! Eure Josi 😙 What an amazing time! This summer, my career as a professional footballer will come to an end. It is now the right time for me to let all the incredible moments sink in. When I look back, I feel unbelievable gratitude and I am so thankful to have had such amazing support during these past years. I’ve had the privilege to fulfill my dream and I don’t take that for granted. If I were able to pay it forward in some way, then that would be to inspire everyone to believe that you can achieve anything you want to if you believe in yourself. Sport will always be a huge part of my life, and I’m so excited now to see in which direction my path will take me. Thank you so much for all the lovely experiences and adventures which I was lucky enough to experience with you all. WHAT AN AMAZING TIME! 😙 Josi

A post shared by Josephine Henning (@josephine_henning) on Jul 2, 2018 at 2:44pm PDT

“What an amazing time!

“This summer, my career as a professional footballer will come to an end. 

“It is now the right time for me to let all the incredible moments sink in. When I look back, I feel unbelievable gratitude and I am so thankful to have had such amazing support during these past years.

“I’ve had the privilege to fulfill my dream and I don’t take that for granted. 

“If I were able to pay it forward in some way, then that would be to inspire everyone to believe that you can achieve anything you want to if you believe in yourself. 

“Sport will always be a huge part of my life, and I’m so excited now to see in which direction my path will take me. 

“Thank you so much for all the lovely experiences and adventures which I was lucky enough to experience with you all. 

“WHAT AN AMAZING TIME! 😙”

Henning moved to Arsenal last summer after being released by Lyon. It was hoped that she would boost the injury-plagued backline but merely became another casualty herself.

Henning originally signed for Arsenal in 2016 before a brief six-month spell with Lyon, where she won the treble.