Chuks Aneke hung up his boots on Tuesday after a career that brought 94 goals in 414 appearances, confirming his retirement at the age of 33 and closing a chapter that touched both Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City.

A winding road through English football

Aneke came through Arsenal's academy, making a single senior appearance for the club — as a late substitute in a League Cup tie against Shrewsbury Town in 2011. Shrewsbury would later become the club where he wound down his career, a detail that neatly bookends a 15-year journey through English football and one season in Belgium.

After Arsenal released him, a loan spell at Crewe Alexandra sharpened him as a finisher. He scored 24 goals across two stints at Gresty Road between 2012 and 2014, a return convincing enough to earn him a move to Belgian top-flight side Zulte Waregem. The step up proved more difficult; he managed four goals in 41 games, though he did net in the Europa League.

He returned to England with MK Dons, where 33 goals in 94 appearances established him as one of the more reliable strikers outside the top two divisions. That form brought him to Charlton, and later to Birmingham.

Charlton: 138 games, two spells, one promotion

Aneke's connection with Charlton Athletic proved the most significant of his career. Across two separate stints at The Valley, he made 138 appearances and scored 27 goals, becoming a familiar figure for supporters in south-east London. The source notes he helped Charlton to promotion from League One during the 2024-25 season, a contribution that will be remembered warmly at the club now competing in the Championship.

His ability to lead the line and hold up play made him a useful option in different systems, and his experience across multiple levels of English football gave Charlton's attack a steadying presence during a turbulent period for the club.

Birmingham: a season in the second tier

Aneke also spent a year at Birmingham City, giving him direct experience of Championship football. The spell added to a career that took in the second tier, League One, League Two and the Belgian Pro League, giving him a breadth of knowledge few strikers of his generation can match.

His final competitive appearance came on New Year's Day, turning out for Shrewsbury against Bristol Rovers before stepping away from the game.

94 goals and an honest career

The final tally of 94 goals from 414 games reflects a striker who contributed consistently wherever he played without ever quite commanding the spotlight at the highest level. His peak output at Crewe and MK Dons showed what he was capable of with regular minutes, and his longevity at Charlton in particular earned him a loyal following.

For supporters of both Charlton and Birmingham, his retirement marks the end of a career that intersected meaningfully with each club's recent history. Charlton can count him among the players who helped lift them back into the second tier; Birmingham fans will remember a striker who served the club during its Championship campaign.

Aneke confirmed the news publicly this week, with no statement yet from either club.

Frequently asked

What clubs did Chuks Aneke play for?
Aneke played for Arsenal (academy), Stevenage (loan), Crewe Alexandra (loan, twice), Zulte Waregem, MK Dons, Charlton Athletic (two spells), Birmingham City, Preston North End (loan) and Shrewsbury Town, among others.
How many goals did Chuks Aneke score in his career?
Aneke scored 94 goals in 414 appearances across his professional career.
Did Chuks Aneke play in the Championship?
Yes. Aneke spent a year at Birmingham City in the Championship, and he also helped Charlton Athletic win promotion from League One to the Championship during the 2024-25 season.