James Milner has retired from professional football at the age of 40.
The Leeds United academy product who evolved from a teenage forward into a veteran utility player will go down as one of the finest footballers Yorkshire has ever produced, with a trophy cabinet and a list of achievements to prove it.
His last was to be part of the Brighton and Hove Albion squad which qualified for European competition for only the second time in their history, although his on-field role was restricted to 778 Premier League minutes in 2025-26.
During that time, though, he broke the record for most appearances in the rebranded top-flight, setting a new benchmark with 658.
Milner is the only player to win every major domestic trophy in this country with more than one club, completing the set with both Manchester City and Liverpool. He also the European Cup with Liverpool in 2019.
Milner broke Wayne Rooney's short-lived record as the youngest Premier League goalscorer when he was a 16-year-old Leeds player in 2002, although Arsenal's Max Dowman now holds that honour.
He had made over 300 career appearances by the time he was named PFA Young Player of the Year in 2009-10. He Aston Villa midfielder scored 12 goals and made 16 more in 49 appearances that season.
Milner, who had a loan spell at Swindon Town whilst at Leeds, and left them for Newcastle United in 2004, win 61 England caps before retiring from international football in 2016. He holds the record for most England Under-21 appearances with 46.
CALLING IT QUITS: James Milner has retired from professsional football (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
CALLING IT QUITS: James Milner has retired from professsional football (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
In a statement announcing his retirement, Milner said: “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 (due to injury) and then coming back to be part of Brighton qualifying for Europe for the second time in their history at the age of 40."