FREMANTLE defender Adam McPhee is set to retire immediately and return to Melbourne.

A McPhee move was rumoured at the end of the season but the defender signed a one-year contract extension last month.

But newspaper reports suggest McPhee has made up his mind during a post-season overseas trip that he wants to move east.

The decision is purely for family reasons.

McPhee will tell coach Ross Lyon of his decision when he returns from holidays on Monday.

McPhee, 30, started his career with the Dockers, playing 25 games before moving to Essendon where he won the Bombers' 2004 best-and-fairest before being traded back to Fremantle at the end of 2009.

His decision comes a day after the final list lodgement deadline. The Dockers yesterday delisted Nick Lower, Jesse Crichton and Dylan Roberton and will have five picks in next week's draft.

Originally published as McPhee to quit football