Former Middlesbrough forward Duncan Watmore has announced his retirement from professional football. The 32-year-old has decided to call time on his playing career despite receiving offers to continue, instead turning his attention to a new role with PEAK4 as head of elite performance & business development.

What's Next for Watmore?

Duncan Watmore leaves football after a career spanning more than a decade, having made over 300 professional appearances and represented clubs across the Premier League and Football League, including Sunderland, Middlesbrough, and Millwall.

Career Highlights

The forward began his senior career with Altrincham before earning a move to Sunderland in 2013, where he went on to make 87 appearances for the Black Cats. Alongside his football career, Watmore has also invested heavily in his education, completing a first-class degree in Economics and Business Management at Newcastle University before later achieving a Master’s degree in International Business Leadership and Management.

New Chapter

Announcing his retirement, Watmore said: “After a great deal of reflection, I have decided that now is the right time for me to retire from professional football and begin the next chapter of my career.” With Middlesbrough currently standing 5th in Championship, 80 pts, 22W-14D-10L from 46 games, and 15 points behind leaders Coventry, the team is looking to bounce back from their last result, Hull City 1-0 Middlesbrough on 2026-05-23, and recent form of 0W-1D-4L.