India's trailblazing goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan has announced her retirement from professional football, concluding a career that spanned 17 years. The announcement, made on Wednesday, brings an end to her international journey, which began in 2008 when she first represented the Indian U19 national team.
Aditi Chauhan retires from professional football
Aditi made history in 2015 by joining West Ham Ladies, becoming the first Indian woman to play in the English football League. In a social media post announcing her decision, Aditi expressed gratitude to the sport for shaping her life and providing her with an identity.
Aditi Chauhan was born in Chennai but moved to Delhi at a young age, just shy of nine years old. Her international football journey began in 2008 when she made her debut for the India U19 team. Later, in 2011, she earned her first senior national cap during the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Olympic qualifiers. Her most recent involvement in club football in the Indian Women’s League was with Sreebhumi. A significant milestone in her career came in 2015 when Aditi became the first Indian woman to play competitive club football in England after joining West Ham United Ladies. In addition to her football achievements, she also pursued academic endeavors and completed her MSc in Sports Management from Loughborough University.
Aditi announced her retirement through an emotional social media post
This is what Aditi Chauhan's emotional retirement post read:
“Football is a game of two halves. I gave it everything in the first half but I’ve still got plenty left in the tank. I’m not done yet. Thank you, football - for shaping me, testing me, and carrying me through. After 17 unforgettable years, I'm retiring from professional football with deep gratitude and pride,” Aditi wrote in an emotional post on Wednesday.
“This game gave me more than just a career; it gave me an identity. From chasing a dream in Delhi to carving out my own path all the way to the UK where I pursued my Master's in Sports Management and played for West Ham United - I walked a road with no clear map. I never had to choose between education and passion. I fought hard to do both, and that balance has defined me,” she wrote.. “I gave everything to the game - my focus, my fire, my body - all in pursuit of that No. 1 jersey for India. But behind the highlights were the quiet battles: the fear of the unknown, the pressure to justify that my path was valid, and the persistent question from society - "How would you possibly make a living playing football?”
"And then, the injuries. Coming back not once, but twice from ACL injuries, I believe I set an example for other players that one could overcome anything with mental courage. The pain, the doubt, the silence - it was a battle I had to win from within. “That’s why this past season meant so much. From fighting relegation to finishing in the top 3, and knocking out the defending champions - we built something unforgettable. I'll never forget my last international either - playing through a torn ACL and still not conceding. That moment reminded me exactly why I gave everything to this game.
“What I'm most proud of as a professional athlete is the consistency. Across 17 years, I kept coming back - through setbacks, through injuries, through every doubt - and earned the No. 1 spot time and again. “My parents stood by me, picked me up when I needed, pushed me when I slacked a bit. Everything that I am, the things I've been able to achieve have been possible because of my mom, who's quietly just ridden this crazy ride with me and I can't thank god enough for giving her as my mom.
“As I now step into life beyond the pitch, I carry that belief with me - not as a player anymore, but as someone committed to building a stronger pathway and ecosystem for the next generation. My second half is about giving back to the game that gave me everything. “The formula remains the same: dream big, believe in yourself, and put in the work,” Aditi's post concluded.