JUST IN: Joe Hart finally speaks on signing a new four year contract

Joe Hart has disclosed that he desired to conclude his playing career at his own discretion and

could not envision completing it at any other club following his departure from Celtic.

This Monday, the 75-time England cap goalkeeper declared his intention to step down at the end of the current campaign,

making him 37 years old.

After leaving Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2021,

the former Manchester City player revitalized his career and added a slew of Scottish domestic medals

to his collection of all English major honors.

“I have loved every moment of being here, myself and my family,” Hart said.

“It’s been everything and more than I wanted it to be and I will be forever proud that I represented this club.

“I will be 37 at the end of this season. What direction the club wants to go,

whether I fitted into that, I wasn’t too sure. We didn’t even have that conversation.

“I certainly wasn’t interested in going and trying to play anywhere else.

“So I felt, right, I wanted to be strong and fit and ultimately happy.

If there is such a thing, I feel I am in that place, and I feel like it’s the right time.”

Hart, who made his first-team debut for Shrewsbury 20 years ago, added: “I looked at what age I’m going to be,

I’m aware of all the stresses I have put myself through body-wise all through my career.

“I didn’t really want to wait and be told. And, with the cycle of the three years I have managed to do here,

I wasn’t interested in playing anywhere else. It just felt right.

“No-one needs the speculation of whether a regular starter is going to be offered a contract,

sign a contract, whether he is looking elsewhere. That’s a needless narrative when all of us are on the same page,

so I thought it was important to address it.”

Hart’s decision gives manager Brendan Rodgers one less big call to make as he plans for what appears to be a crucial summer transfer window.

“I think we are very clear on what we need to improve on within the team and the squad,” Rodgers said.

“But certainly, with Joe going, that really quickens that up in terms of needing to bring in someone for next year.”

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