Former England captain Steph Houghton to retire at the end of the season

Manchester City defender Steph Houghton, formerly the captain of England, has announced that she is set to hang up her boots at the end of the current Women’s Super League campaign.

Houghton, 35, was handed her senior England debut in 2007 and went on to make 121 appearances for the Lionesses, last featuring for her country three years ago.

The veteran centre-back, who turns 36 next month, is also City’s all-time record appearance holder and has helped the side win eight pieces of silverware since her arrival in 2014.

Houghton led England to a third-placed finish at the 2015 World Cup in Canada and previously represented Arsenal, Leeds Carnegie and Sunderland at club level.