What happened to Izzy Brown? The Chelsea wonderkid who retired at 26

Izzy Brown was once one of the hottest prospects in English football, but in April 2023, the former Chelsea man called it quits on his career at 26 years old.

The versatile forward played at all of England's youth levels, making nearly 40 appearances for England U16, U17, U19, and Under 20's.

Brown became the second youngest player in Premier League history to make his debut, playing for West Brom in May 2013 aged 16.

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He was signed by Jose Mourinho after he made his debut for 'The Baggies,' with the weight of delivering for Chelsea in future years.

However, ten years on from his dream move to Chelsea, Izzy Brown decided to hang up his boots and leave elite-level football just before his prime. But why?

The Chelsea wonderkid wouldn't even get the chance to prove himself in the first team at the London club, playing only eleven minutes for them against West Brom at the Hawthorns.

Following his eleven minutes in the Chelsea first team at the back end of the 2014-15 season, Brown would make seven loan spells abroad and in the EFL.

His loan spells and the majority of his career have been plagued with serious injuries, giving him no chance at making a sustained impact at any of the clubs he played for.

His first three loan spells at Vitesse in Holland, Rotherham, and Huddersfield were a success, playing in Europe with Vitesse and scoring four goals in 15 appearances for Huddersfield in the season they were promoted to the Premier League.

After a semi-successful with Brighton in the Premier League, Brown's career hit a turning point, suffering a cruciate ligament injury that forced him to make only one senior appearance for Leeds United in 2018.

The former England prospect had a good loan spell with Luton Town, making 25 appearances and eight assists, but injuries kept coming as he suffered a hamstring injury.

In June 2021, Brown finally left Chelsea and joined Preston North End on a one-year deal, but he failed to make one appearance after rupturing his Achilles.

According to theathletic.com, Brown said: "We had a pre-season game against Celtic when I was at Preston, and I felt some pain in my Achilles, but it wasn't too bad. I came back for training, and then I just passed the football, like I'd done a million times before, and I heard a pop."

After two months out, Brown went out for food and stepped down a small step, snapping his Achilles twice in three months. He said: "To come back from one is hard. To come back from two is basically impossible."

After snapping his Achilles twice and being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a condition that affects the nerves in your feet, Brown knew it was time to finish his career.

Brown's move to Preston North End was painful, dealing with injuries and the death of one of his best mates. But in his 20s, Brown can focus on other passions away from football.