James Milner has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 40
James Milner scores from the spot to make it 2-2.
James Milner scores for Aston Villa
View Image
James Milner has confirmed he's hanging up his boots, sharing the news in a heartfelt message on social media.
The ex-Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder has drawn the curtain on his remarkable career aged 40, following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
Milner, whose senior bow came back in 2002 for Leeds, signed for his final club Brighton from Liverpool in 2023.
He finishes his playing days as a three-time Premier League champion, lifting the trophy twice with Manchester City and once with the Reds.
He played for Aston Villa first on loan in 2005/06 in a deal that saw Nolberto Solano go to Newcastle United.
He returned to Villa Park permanently in 2008 and spent two more seasons with the club before moving on to the Etihad Stadium with 22 goals and 122 appearances on his record.
Milner wrote: "After 24 seasons in the @premierleague, it feels like the right time to bring an end to my playing career. From making my debut for @leedsunited, 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 @officialbhafc qualifying for Europe for the second time in their history at the age of 40.
Content Image
Content Image
"To have gone on to represent @nufc, @astonvilla, @mancity, @liverpoolfc and @officialbhafc - and not forgetting a memorable month at @officialstfc - has been an incredible privilege.
"Every club has played a huge role in my life and career, and I want to thank everyone involved - the owners, staff, coaches, teammates and supporters who welcomed me and helped me along the way."
He went on: "To the fans, thank you. To those who supported me every step of the way, your encouragement meant more than you'll ever know. And to those who gave me grief along the way, thank you too - you all played your part in making the journey memorable and helping shape me as a player and person.", reports the Mirror.
"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 ever have imagined, and I will always be thankful for the opportunities it provided.
"Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey."
Every day, the BirminghamLive football desk strive to deliver news, features and transfer-related stories as a part of our overall package of Aston Villa content.
Our dedicated reporter John Townley -who you can follow on X - follows Villa home and away and offers you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between.
You can keep on top of the very latest updates when they occurwith our free daily Aston Villa newsletter, giving you a round-up of the key stories in your email inbox.
If you want your favourite content straight to your phone,then sign up to get breaking updates and the biggest stories in and around the club on WhatsApp.
You can also get the latest Villa stories on your phone via the BirminghamLive app - which you can personalise - either on Apple or Android.
And our weekly Aston Villa podcast, Claret and Blue, available to watch and listen on all major streaming services. You can subscribe tothe YouTube channel, or access the podcaston Spotify orvia Apple.