Akpembe, the former Nigerian footballer who played for several clubs in Europe before retiring from professional football, has announced his retirement due to injury.
The 42-year-old forward had been with West Ham United since 2017 and was part of their squad that won promotion to the Premier League last season. However, he suffered an ankle injury during the final game of the season and has now decided to call it quits.
In a statement released by the club, Akpembe said: "After careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to retire from professional football."
"I want to thank everyone at West Ham for the opportunity they've given me over the years," he added.
Akpembe began his career with Benin City FC in Nigeria before moving to Portugal to play for Boavista. He then moved to Spain where he played for Real Madrid B and Valencia, before joining West Ham in 2017.
Despite struggling with injuries throughout his career, Akpembe remains one of the most respected players in Nigerian football history. He has scored over 50 goals in his career and is remembered fondly by fans both in Nigeria and abroad.
His departure from West Ham leaves a void in the team's attack, but manager David Moyes will hope to find a replacement quickly as the club looks to strengthen its squad ahead of next season.