Chuks Aneke, the former Milton Keynes Dons striker, has retired from professional football at the age of 33. His announcement brings to a close a 15-year career that included a prolific spell with the Dons, where he became a firm fan favourite.
Aneke progressed through Arsenal's academy and made a single first-team appearance for the Gunners in the League Cup. After his release, he moved to Belgium's top flight with Zulte Waregem, scoring in the Europa League, before finding his most consistent form in England. He scored 24 goals in 41 games during two loan spells at Crewe Alexandra, a tally that foreshadowed his impact at MK Dons.
Milton Keynes Dons impact
He joined Milton Keynes Dons and scored 33 goals in 94 appearances. His journey also included two spells at Charlton Athletic, where he made 138 appearances and scored 27 goals, and a season in the Championship with Birmingham City. Aneke finished his career with a brief stint at Shrewsbury Town, making his final appearance on New Year's Day.
Chuks Aneke said: "Former MK Dons and Charlton striker Chuks Aneke has confirmed his retirement from playing." In total, he scored 94 goals in 414 senior career games.
The news comes as the current Milton Keynes Dons side sits 14th in League One with 15 points from 12 games, a record of three wins, six draws and three losses. The team has scored 16 goals and conceded 19 this season, leaving them ten points behind the league leaders. Their recent form shows three wins and two defeats from the last five, a sequence that includes a 2-1 win over Luton on Saturday 17 October, a 1-0 victory at Stevenage on Saturday 24 October, and a 4-1 victory over Bromley on Tuesday 27 October. In that most recent win, Aaron Collins scored twice, with Alex Gilbey and Charlie Goode also on target. The team now prepares for its next fixture, a home match against Doncaster Rovers this Saturday 31 October. Doncaster currently occupy 18th place in the standings, setting up a key mid-table encounter.
