Former England midfielder James Milner has announced his retirement from football at the age of 40 after a 24-year career in the Premier League.
Milner, who has spent the last three seasons at Brighton, started his career at boyhood club Leeds and went on to win three Premier League titles – two with Manchester City and one with Liverpool.
He also helped Liverpool win the Champions League in 2019.
Milner broke the record for most Premier League appearances when he played for Brighton against Brentford in February, ending his career with a total of 658.
“After 24 seasons in the Premier League, this feels like the right time to end my playing career,” Milner said in a statement on Instagram.
“From the moment I made my debut at the age of 16 for Leeds, who I supported growing up, and became the Premier League’s youngest goalscorer, I could never have dreamed of the journey I have been on.»
Published on June 1, 2026
