Ryan Mason has been forced to retire from football at 26

Ryan Mason has been forced to retire from football.

Mason fractured his skull in a match between Hull City and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last January. The 26-year-old midfielder clashed heads with Gary Cahill, and underwent surgery following the game. Mason began his career with Tottenham, and made 70 appearances for the club before joining Hull for £13m in the summer of 2016. He had only played 20 games for his new team before the horrific collision occurred last year. The former midfielder, who earned one cap for England, had been working towards returning to football, but has retired on medical advice. Specialists have deemed it unsafe for him to continue his career, and he announced his retirement on Tuesday morning. Hull released a statement on their website, which reads: "It is with deep regret that the Club has to announce that, following the head injury suffered on 22nd January 2017, Ryan Mason is to retire from football with immediate effect.  "Ryan has sought the guidance of numerous world renowned neurologists and neuro surgeons who have all advised that a return to competitive football is not advised. Ryan would like to put on record his thanks to all at the Club who have aided his recovery to this point and he his is indebted to them for their support and compassion over the past 12 months." Mason released a statement of his own on his Instagram page, saying that he worked "tirelessly" to get back on the pitch. He also thanked those who offered him support during a difficult period. https://www.instagram.com/p/BfIlK8RFaTE/?taken-by=ryan8mason