ENGLAND international Ryan Mason has been forced to retire at the age of 26 just over a year after suffering a horror head injury against Chelsea.
The Hull City midfielder fractured his skull last January after clashing heads with Gary Cahill and was immediately rushed to hospital for life-saving surgery.
But despite his brave and gruelling efforts to get back on the pitch, the ex-Tottenham star, who welcomed his first child George into the world in December, says he now has “no option” but to hang up his boots following medical advice.
Hull were the first to confirm the sad news this morning.
A club statement read: “It is with deep regret that the club has to announce that, following the head injury suffered on 22nd January 2017, Ryan Mason is to retire from football with immediate effect.
“Ryan has sought the guidance of numerous world renowned neurologists and neuro surgeons who have all advised that a return to competitive football is not advised.
| It is with deep regret that the Club has to announce, following the head injury suffered on 22nd January 2017, @RyanMason is to retire from football with immediate effect
https://t.co/ccKiMlH6ZKpic.twitter.com/uNQ6mALO35
— Hull City (@HullCity) February 13, 2018
| It is with deep regret that the Club has to announce, following the head injury suffered on 22nd January 2017, 
“Ryan would like to put on record his thanks to all at the club who have aided his recovery to this point and he his is indebted to them for their support and compassion over the past 12 months.”
Following the heartbreaking confirmation from the Championship side, Mason took to Instagram to release a statement of his own.
He wrote: “I can confirm that following specialist medical advice I am having to retire from playing professional football.
“I have worked tirelessly in order to be able to return to the pitch. Unfortunately, having taken expert medical advice I now have no option but to retire due to the risks involved given the nature of my injury.
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“I am and always will be eternally grateful for the incredible network of people around me who have helped me to recover from what was a life-threatening injury in January 2017.
“Thank you to my amazing fiancee, Rachel, who has been by my side and lived every single day with me since the injury, helping to give me the strength I’ve needed no matter how tough things got.
“We are so lucky to have now become the proud parents of our perfect baby boy George.”
He added: “To my Mum, Dad, sisters, and all of my family and close friends, thank you for everything.
“Despite how tough it’s been and the challenges I’ve faced along the way you’ve all been there supporting me and words will never truly do justice to how grateful I am for your love and support.
“I would like to thank everyone at Hull City, especially the Doc Mark Waller and all of the medical team for helping me to recover. Thank you to the chairman and the board for being so patient with my recovery and sticking by me.
RYAN MASON - THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THE STAR'S LIFE
- Born in Enfield on June 13, 1991
- Joins Tottenham’s academy aged eight in 1999
- Mason signs his first professional contract with the club in 2008
- Makes his senior debut as sub in a Uefa Cup clash against NEC in November 2008
- Heads out on loan to Yeovil, Doncaster ROvers, Millwall, Lorient and Swindon Town to gain further experience
- After impressing Mauricio Pochettino on the club’s pre-season tour of the USA, Mason is included in Spurs’ Premier League squad for the 2014/15 season
- He signed a five-and-a-half year contract extension with Tottenham in January 2015
- Started the 2015 League Cup Final at Wembley on March 1 but was unable to stop his side from being dfeated 2-0 by Chelsea
- Three days later he scored his first Prem goal during a 3-2 victory over Swansea
- Makes his England debut as sub against Italy on March 31, 2015
- Endures a difficult 2015/16 campaign at White Hart Lane and ends it with only eight league starts
- Hull City pay a club record £13m to bring the star to Humberside on August 30, 2016
- A month later he scores his first goal for the Tigers in the EFL Cup win over Stoke
- The midfielder is rushed to hospital for life-saving surgery on January 22, 2017 after clashing heads with Chelsea defender Gary Cahill, leaving him with a fractured skull
- Having undergone a succesful operation, the star spends the rest of 2017 going through rehabilitation in an attempt to return to playing
- Mason and his fiance Rachel Peters welcome their first child, a baby boy named George, into the world in December 2017
- He announces his retirement from football on February 13, 2018 onb medical advice
“I am so proud to have come through the ranks to play for my club, the club I love. To have had the honour of captaining the team fills me with immense pride. Thank you to all of my teammates over the years, there are too many to mention, it’s been a privilege to play alongside you all.”
The emotional message continued: “Finally, representing my country is an honour that nobody can ever take away from me and something that I am so proud to have achieved.
“I’m retiring from the game with my head held high having done everything in my power over these past 13 months to have given myself every opportunity to return to the pitch.
“I feel content knowing that I dedicated my life to be able to play football at the highest level, hard work really does pay off!
“I love the game, I always will and I am excited to see where football will take me next.
“There are too many names to mention when it comes to talking about Tottenham Hotspur but I would like to say a special thank you to John McDermott, the gaffer and everybody at Spurs for helping me to achieve my dreams.”
Mason, who was born in Enfield, retires having made more than 150 senior appearances in total for Spurs, Doncaster, Millwall, Lorient, Swindon, Yeovil and Hull.
After a series of impressive displays for Spurs he was rewarded with a call-up to the England squad in March 2015.
He made his debut as sub in the 1-1 draw with Italy at the Juventus Stadium and provided the assist for Andros Townsend’s late equaliser.
Following the announcement this morning a number of his former clubs, team-mates and friends paid tribute to Mason – starting with the national team.
Sad to see that @RyanMason has had to retire. Good luck for whatever your next step is mate
pic.twitter.com/z7M6MneHDx
— Curtis Davies #33 (@TheCurtisDavies) February 13, 2018
England tweeted: “We’d like to wish the very best to @RyanMason, who has sadly announced his retirement from international football.”
And Chelsea, the club he injured himself against, were also quick off the mark to say: “Everybody at Chelsea Football Club sends our best wishes to Ryan Mason following his retirement. Good luck in whatever you choose to do next, Ryan.”
Tottenham’s Twitter account posted a video of the star’s highlights from his time at White Hart Lane and wrote: “Always #OneOfOurOwn, @RyanMason.”
Swindon added: “Everyone at #STFC is truly gutted to hear news of your retirement @RyanMason. We wish you the very best of luck for the future.”
Former England international and Spurs striker Gary Linekar wrote: “A real shame for an extremely talented footballer. Wish @RyanMason all the very best.”
Derby County defender Cutis Davies, a former Hull team-mate of Mason, said: “Sad to see that @RyanMason has had to retire. Good luck for whatever your next step is mate.”