James Milner retires from professional football at age 40

James Milner has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 40, concluding a 24-year career in the English leagues. Throughout his career, he set the all-time Premier League appearance record with 658 matches, surpassing Gareth Barry. Milner began his professional journey at Leeds United in 2002 and subsequently played for Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Brighton. His trophy cabinet includes three Premier League titles, one Champions League title won with Liverpool in 2019, as well as FA Cup and League Cup honors. In addition to his club career, he represented the England national team on 61 occasions. Milner expressed that after 24 seasons, he felt it was the right time to conclude his path in the sport. He noted his transition from a teenage debutant at Leeds to his final stint assisting Brighton in securing European qualification. The announcement was made through a formal statement shared on social media, reflecting on his long-standing journey across top-tier English football.