James Milner, the Premier League's all-time appearance record holder, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 40. The versatile midfielder's career spanned 24 seasons in the top flight, during which he played for Leeds United, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Brighton & Hove Albion. He also earned 61 caps for England and represented his country at four major tournaments.
Milner broke the Premier League appearance record in February 2024 while playing for Brighton against Brentford, finishing his career with 658 top-tier games. His journey began at Leeds, where at 16 years and 356 days he became the league's youngest ever goalscorer. He later won two Premier League titles with Manchester City, adding another with Liverpool, along with FA Cups, League Cups, and the Champions League.
Known for his professionalism and versatility, Milner operated as a full-back, winger, and emergency centre-forward in addition to his preferred central midfield role. Former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini called him 'the most complete player in England,' while ex-teammate Nedum Onuoha described him as 'the glue that holds stuff together.' Off the pitch, Milner learned Spanish to communicate better with teammates and taught his children the language at home.
In his retirement statement on Instagram, Milner wrote: 'After 24 seasons in the Premier League, it feels like the right time to bring an end to my playing career. From making my debut for Leeds... I could never have dreamed of the journey I’ve been on.' He added that the friendships made throughout his career were what he would cherish most.
