Defender Walker 'at ease' with England retirement

Kyle Walker played in the final of the European Championship against Italy in 2021 and Spain in 2024. He won 96 caps, the most for any England right-back ever [Getty Images] Former England defender Kyle Walker said he was "at ease" with his decision to quit international football and hoped it could lead to an extended club career - similar to that enjoyed by former team-mate James Milner. The Burnley right-back, who turned 36 in May, announced his retirement from the Three Lions in March after a glittering career earned him 96 caps and feature at five major tournaments. Walker played in the final of the European Championship in 2021 and 2024 and the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup. England finished third in this summer's tournament in North America, although injuries to Reece James and Tino Livramento led to midfielder Declan Rice having to step in as an emergency right-back, with central defenders Ezri Konsa and Jarell Quansah also deputising. Asked if he had retired too early from England after being left out of squads by Thomas Tuchel, Walker said "no, definitely not". "Decisions in life you stand on what you do," he added. "I made that decision and it was a collaborative decision for me and my family. They have been through everything with me in the summers and internationals so it was not just me, myself and I making that decision. "It was a difficult decision but one I'm more at ease with now. It was something I wanted to do and felt it was right. I spent a lot of years with England representing my country that I was very grateful for. "The way the squad and injuries fell, maybe I might have been in with a shout but I was not to foresee that. He [Tuchel] could've always called me and I would've represented my country, but he decided not to and that's how it goes. I was not expecting a call because I was retired. "It was Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tino Livramento, so I was not leaving them spare, so I could enjoy some family time." Kyle Walker won the Premier League six times with Manchester City and the Champions League before joining Burnley at the start of the 2025-26 campaign [Getty Images] Walker was speaking at the media launch of the English Football League (EFL) season, which was staged at the National Football Museum in Manchester on Wednesday. Burnley were relegated from the Premier League and start their Championship campaign at home on Sunday, 16 August against another side that dropped down a division in West Ham. Walker played in 36 of the Clarets' 38 top-flight games in 2025-26 and hoped his decision not to play international football would prolong his club career. His former team-mate Milner won 61 caps for England before retiring from international football in 2016 at the age of 30. But the midfielder would go on to play top-flight club football for another 10 years, setting the record for the most appearances in the Premier League era, before hanging up his boots aged 40 at the end of last season after a spell at Brighton. "I will take it season by season," added Walker, who won six Premier League titles and the Champions League at Manchester City before joining Burnley in 2025. "I'm 36 and will be 37 at the end of the season and I will see how I feel and how my body holds up. "I still feel good and still feel I'm playing at a good level. You look at someone like James Milner and how long he went on in his career. He retired very early [from England] and went on to achieve great things in football so hopefully I can follow in his footsteps."