Photo by Jose Luis Contreras/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Jose Luis Contreras/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Loris Roselli/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Loris Roselli/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images
Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images
Signed on a pre-contract deal by Parma before joining Swansea on loan, Parma were forced to pay the Blues compensation. That same summer, he moved to Roma on loan with an option worth £7m.
After joining Roma permanently, he only lasted 26 matches before Rodgers returned and lured him to Anfield. Three seasons with Sunderland came next, before another return to Italy, with AC Milan.
His brief stint at Hellas Verona ended when he finally left Italy and England, moving to Turkey with Fatih Karagümrük, scoring 30 goals in 75 games. In 2023, he joined Sampdoria in Serie B.
Then, finally, the last of his 10 clubs: 33 appearances for Salford in League Two. On Instagram, Borini confirmed his retirement. He thanked the other nine clubs, but posted an emotional message to Chelsea.
“It all started with a flight. Thank you, Chelsea. I was 16. A flight I spent entirely with tears in my eyes, beginning the journey of my career with no real destination, other than the dreams I wanted to achieve.
“From that day on, I started building myself, without knowing what would become of that kid with such a strong mindset. I started building my dreams in my head and I ended up turning them into my reality.
“The same reality that today will change forever. The reality that has shaped my past, my present and my future. Today, just like when I sat on a plane to London, I feel those same emotions about what lies ahead.
“Fear. Happiness. Courage. Uncertainty. Dreams. Success. Passion. Sacrifice. I want to thank that kid who never stopped believing. And the man I am today will keep believing in the next opportunity.
“This time without a ball at my feet, but with that same belief. Always. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, FOOTBALL,” Borini summed up on his Instagram page, as he called time on his 19-year career.
Didier Drogba and others respond as Borini announces retirement
Borini wasn’t the only former Chelsea attacker to retire on Wednesday, with Pedro also confirming he is calling time on his career. Marcos Alonso and Alvaro Morata were among those to respond to Pedro.
Borini, meanwhile, joined Chelsea during Roman Abramovich’s early years when boarding that plane from Bologna. It saw Didier Drogba send his old teammate a touching message, commenting on his Instagram.
Drogba said: “Love you Fabioooooo big bro so proud of your career,” along with a few blue heart emojis. Jordan Henderson, who played with Borini at Liverpool, also commented a clapping emoji yesterday.
Borini ends his career having clocked up 402 appearances for 10 different clubs and an Italy cap, scoring 98 goals and creating 38 more. It is unclear what line of work Borini is set to go into after his retirement.