On January 30, Dutch defender Lechette, who played last season for Chengdu Rongcheng, officially announced his retirement, closing a rich and diverse professional career.
The 32-year-old began his career at Groningen and went on to play for Utrecht, Sassuolo, Hamburg, AZ Alkmaar, Gwangju FC, and Chengdu Rongcheng in the 2024-2025 season. Despite being offered a two-year contract extension and reportedly linked with Shenzhen Xinpengcheng, he chose to retire to focus on family life: “We even considered relocating the whole family, but for such a short time, it wasn’t worth the upheaval.”
Reflecting on his career, Lechette said: “After so many wonderful years, it’s the right time to close this chapter. I’m grateful for my time at Chengdu Rongcheng and excited to start a new journey in society, returning to Utrecht to begin a new phase of life.”
He expressed heartfelt thanks to his family, friends, former teammates, coaches, all clubs he played for, and fans: “Thank you to all the fans who cheered or jeered at the stadium—you make football what it is. I’ve seen incredible places, had amazing moments, and faced challenges, but I wouldn’t trade any of it.”
