Hull City Midfielder Ryan Mason Retires From Football On Advice From Neurosurgeons After Suffering Head Injury

Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason has announced his retirement after fracturing his skull in January 2017.

Ryan Mason who is only just 26-year-old collided heads with Chelsea defender Gary Cahill in a game at Stamford Bridge and has not played since.

“I can confirm that following specialist medical advice I am having to retire from playing professional football,” Mason said in a statement released on Tuesday. “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. 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.”


Mason joined Tottenham Hotspur as a trainee and made his Spurs debut against Dutch club NEC Nijmegen in a UEFA Cup tie in November 2008.

Mason joined Hull in August 2016 for a fee believed to be around £13 million and made 20 appearances and scored twice for the club.

“Ryan has sought the guidance of numerous world renowned neurologists and neurosurgeons who have all advised that a return to competitive football is not advised,” the Championship club said in a statement.

“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.”

Mason, in his statement, thanked the Hull medical team for helping him recover from the injury, which he told talkSPORT in October required 14 metal plates and 42 stitches in his skull.

“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,” Mason said.

“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.”