James Milner, the Premier League's all-time appearance record holder, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 40. The midfielder ends a 24-season career in the top flight, during which he played for six clubs and earned 61 England caps.
Milner broke the Premier League appearance record in February while playing for Brighton against Brentford, finishing with 658 games. His career began at Leeds United, where at 16 years and 356 days he became the league's youngest goalscorer. He went on to play for Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Brighton.
At Manchester City, Milner won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and a League Cup. He later added another Premier League crown, FA Cup, League Cup, and the Champions League with Liverpool. His final season at Brighton saw the club qualify for the Conference League.
Known for his professionalism and versatility, Milner played as a full-back, winger, and emergency centre-forward. Former teammate Nedum Onuoha called him 'ahead of the curve', while Jordan Henderson praised his 'unique mentality'. Milner also learned Spanish to communicate with teammates and taught his children the language at home.
In a social media post, Milner said: 'After 24 seasons in the Premier League, it feels like the right time to bring an end to my playing career.' He added that the friendships he made were more important than trophies or records.
