The former Villa man broke the Premier League all time appearance record.
Former Aston Villa and England midfielder James Milner has confirmed his retirement from football at the age of 40.
Milner in action for Villa in 2010placeholder image
Milner in action for Villa in 2010 | Getty Images
Milner, who was the youngest ever scorer in the Premier League when he broke through at Leeds, went on to sign for Newcastle before a spending time on loan at Aston Villa.
He would later go on to permanently move to Villa Park in a £12m deal in 2008 - and in total scored 22 goals in 126 games for the club.
Milner then moved on to Man City for £26m - winning countless trophies in Manchester including two Premier League titles.
He continued to perform at the highest level throughout his career, spending a number of years with Liverpool where he won the Premier League and Champions League.
Back in 2023 he signed for Brighton and continued to play top flight football into his 40s - breaking the all time Premier League appearance record as he helped the Seagulls back into Europe.
The former Villa man announced his retirement on Instagram, insisting it was ‘the right time’.
He said: “After 24 seasons in the Premier League, it feels like the the right time to bring an end to my playing career.
“From making my debut for Leeds United, who I supported growing up, at the age of 16 and becoming the Premier League’s youngest scorer, I could never have dreamed of the journey I’ve been on, right through to not being able to lift my foot last year and then coming back to be part of Brighton qualifying for Europe for the second time in their history at the age of 40.
Milner in action for Brightonplaceholder image
Milner in action for Brighton | Getty Images
“To have gone on to represent Newcastle, Aston Villa, Man City, Liverpool and Brighton and not forgetting a memorable month at Swindon, has been a huge privilege.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to experience some unforgettable moments, from fighting for survival to winning trophies, playing in Europe, and representing my country.
“But more than anything, it is the people and friendships I’ve made throughout my time in the game I will cherish forever.
“To my family, thank you for every sacrifice, every mile travelled and every moment of encouragement.
“None of this would have been possible without you.
“I leave the game with immense pride, gratitude and memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
“Football has given me far more than I could have ever imagined, and I will always be thankful for the opportunities it provided.”
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