Saido Berahino cost Stoke City £12m when they signed him from West Bromwich Albion in January 2017
Former English Premier League forward Saido Berahino has announced his retirement from professional football at 33, choosing to dedicate his time to coaching Burundi’s national side.
The former West Bromwich Albion attacker rose to prominence at the club, recording 20 goals across league and cup competitions during the 2014/15 campaign.
His impressive performances earned him a £12 million transfer to Stoke City in January 2017.
However, his spell with Stoke proved disappointing after struggling to reproduce his earlier form. The club subsequently dropped out of the Premier League in April 2018.
Although he managed five goals during the 2018/19 season under manager Gary Rowett, his opportunities later diminished, leading to his departure by mutual agreement in 2019.
Following his exit from Stoke, the striker moved to Belgium, featuring for Zulte Waregem and Charleroi before reuniting with former West Brom coach Darren Moore at Sheffield Wednesday in August 2021.
Berahino later continued his career in Cyprus, India and Slovenia, while representing Burundi internationally.
Berahino scored twice in 23 appearances for Burundi as well as netting 72 goals in European club football
He previously featured for England’s youth teams up to the under-21 level and received two senior national team call-ups under Roy Hodgson, although he never made an appearance.
During his time at West Bromwich Albion, the forward registered 36 goals in 121 appearances across all competitions.
One of his memorable achievements was scoring a hat-trick against Newport County in the EFL Cup in August 2013, during his first starting appearance for the club at the age of 20.
In a retirement announcement shared on Instagram under the title A Letter To The Game, Berahino expressed appreciation to West Brom for supporting his development as a young player.
He reflected on the memorable experiences, challenges and lessons gathered throughout his career, describing his decision to step away from playing as the beginning of a new phase in his life.
The former striker also expressed pride in joining Burundi’s technical team, explaining that helping develop emerging talents and contributing to his country’s football future had become his priority.
Berahino further acknowledged the unwavering encouragement of his family and supporters throughout his professional journey.
Reflecting on his remarkable rise from a young refugee to a Premier League footballer, he described the sport as a life-changing force that had taken him from the streets of Bujumbura to England’s top division and several leagues around the world.
He maintained that retirement would not end his connection with football, but instead open a new chapter dedicated to nurturing the next generation of players.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong