Kenyan heritage and Belgium-born international Divock Origi has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 31.
Origi, the former Liverpool and Milan forward, shared the news of hanging up his boots on Monday, June 8, via his social media, stating that he has achieved everything he set out to do.
“My purpose in the game is fulfilled. I lived out my childhood dreams, played on the biggest stages, won the biggest trophies. Grateful to God for all of it. To all my fans, the clubs, my teammates and my family: this will forever be ours. Thank you. The mission is complete. Now I step into my next calling. More of the journey to come. Love, Divock Origi,” he wrote on his social media accounts.
The striker made 358 senior appearances and scored 67 goals during spells with Lille, Liverpool, Wolfsburg, AC Milan and Nottingham Forest.
The peak of his career came at Anfield, where he became a legend.
He scored the decisive goal in Liverpool’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid after netting twice in the famous four-goal comeback against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final.
He was also part of the squad that secured Liverpool’s first Premier League title in the 2019-20 season and contributed several memorable goals, including his dramatic 96th-minute winner against local rivals Everton in December 2018.
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The Belgian born international earned 32 caps for his country and scored three goals.
He is particularly remembered for scoring Liverpool’s second and final goal in their 2019 UEFA Champions League final triumph over Tottenham Hotspur.
Origi began his professional career at Lille before making the move to Merseyside, where he also lifted the Premier League trophy in 2020. He later joined AC Milan on a free transfer in 2022 and spent a season-long loan spell at Nottingham Forest in 2024.
The forward had been without a club since mutually agreeing to terminate his contract with Milan in December.
Why Divock Origi never played for Harambee Stars?
Origi is eligible to represent Kenya through his father, former Harambee Stars striker Mike Okoth Origi, while his mother is Linda Odhimabo.
Born in Ostend, Belgium, Origi grew up in Houthalen-Oost. He comes from a family deeply rooted in football.
His father, Mike Okoth, played for KV Oostende and Genk, among other Belgian clubs, as well as the Kenya national team.
His uncle, Austin Oduor Origi, featured for Gor Mahia in the SportPesa League, while his other uncles, Gerald and Anthony, played for Tusker FC. His cousin, Arnold Origi, is also a professional footballer who has represented Kenya as a goalkeeper.
In 2013, when Origi emerged as one of Belgium’s brightest young talents at the age of 17, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) attempted to lure him to play for Harambee Stars.
However, he was already on Belgium’s radar and had been earmarked for inclusion in the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad. Belgium manager Marc Wilmots later named Origi in the final 23-man squad for the tournament.
In 2025, his father revealed that Origi never played for Kenya because FKF did not formally scout him or approach the family during his developmental years in Europe.
According to Mike, the federation missed the opportunity to engage the striker before Belgium secured his international allegiance.