Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has confirmed he is to leave Anfield at the end of the season after making the “toughest decision of his life” to leave his boyhood club.

The midfielder, who turns 35 in May, has been with the Reds since the age of eight and even though he was offered a new deal to extend his contract he has chosen to seek a new challenge.

“This has been the toughest decision of my life and one which both me and my family have agonised over for a good deal of time,” he told liverpoolfc.com.

“I am making the announcement now so that the manager and the team are not distracted by stories or speculation about my future.

“Liverpool Football Club has been such a huge part of all our lives for so long and saying goodbye is going to be difficult, but I feel it’s something that’s in the best interests of all involved.

“I’m going to carry on playing and although I can’t confirm at this stage where that will be, I can say it will be somewhere that means I won’t be playing for a competing club and will not therefore be lining up against Liverpool – that is something I could never contemplate.”

Gerrard has been linked with a move to Major League Soccer for some time and a move to the United States would appeal to him and his family but there is also reported interest from the Middle East.

This season Gerrard has seen his pitch time reduced as manager Brendan Rodgers has tried to carefully look after his captain, admitting he cannot play three matches in a week to the level either of them would want.

Last season Rodgers employed him in a deeper holding midfield role which, combined with the attacking talents of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, almost saw Gerrard lift the league title he desperately craves as the one club honour missing from his extensive trophy cabinet.

Rodgers has continually praised Gerrard for the influence he has on and off the field.

“It is almost an impossible task to find the words to appropriately sum up Steven Gerrard and his importance to Liverpool,” said Rodgers.

“This is an era where the word ‘legend’ is vastly overused, but in his case it actually doesn’t do him justice.”

Gerrard’s career...

Premier League: 494 appearances, 116 goals.

FA Cup: 39, 13.

League Cup: 28, 9.

Champions League: 87, 30.

UEFA Cup/Europa League: 42, 11.

Others: 5, 1.

Total: 695 matches, 180 goals.

Honours won

FA Cup (2): 2001, 2006

League Cup (3): 2001, 2003, 2012

Community Shield (1): 2006

Champions League (1): 2005

UEFA Cup (1): 2001

UEFA Super Cup (1): 2001

Individual

Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year (1): 2006.

Professional Footballers’ Association young player of the year (1): 2001.

PFA team of the year (8): 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014.

Football Writers’ Association footballer of the year (1): 2009.

Premier League player of the month (5): February 2001, March 2003, December 2004, April 2006, March 2014.

FA Cup final man of the match (1): 2006.

Champions League final man of the match (1): 2005.

UEFA club footballer of the year (1): 2005.

MBE: 2007.