Former Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder James Milner has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 40.
The iconic utility man has called time on his illustrious career after breaking the all-time Premier League appearance record at the end of the 2025-26 season while playing for Brighton & Hove Albion.
Milner hung up his boots after a stellar career spanning more than two decades, concluding an era for one of English football’s most respected figures.
Reflections on a 24-year journey
Announcing his decision on social media, the 40-year-old expressed his immense gratitude for a journey that began as a teenager and took him to the absolute pinnacle of the domestic and international game.
Milner wrote:
“After 24 seasons in the Premier League, it feels like 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 & Hove Albion qualifying for Europe for the second time in their history at the age of 40.
“To have gone on to represent Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton – and not forgetting a memorable month at Swindon Town – 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.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to experience some unforgettable moments, from fighting for survival to winning trophies, playing in Europe, and representing my country, England, at two European Championships and two World Cups. But more than anything, it’s the people and friendships I’ve made throughout the game that I’ll cherish forever.”
Milner made a total of 658 Premier League appearances over his 24-year career, scoring 56 goals and providing 87 assists. He began his journey at Leeds United before representing Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool, and finally Brighton.
A consummate professional and extremely talented player, Milner’s trophy cabinet is incredibly vast. He lifted three Premier League titles two with Manchester City and one with Liverpool alongside two FA Cups and two League Cups.
On the continental stage, he won the UEFA Champions League under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in 2019, later adding the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup to his honors list. He spent eight highly successful seasons as a Red after joining on a free transfer in 2015, appearing 332 times for the club as vice-captain.
Milner also earned 61 caps for England between 2009 and 2016, with his solitary international goal coming in a 5-0 win over Moldova in September 2012.
Milner spent his final season breaking yet another historic milestone. In February, he officially overtook Gareth Barry to become the Premier League’s all-time record appearance maker during Brighton’s victory over Brentford. He ends his career as the third-oldest outfield player in Premier League history behind only Ryan Giggs and Teddy Sheringham playing in the English top flight at 40 years, four months, and 20 days old.
His final act as a professional player came in a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United, but Brighton were nonetheless able to celebrate finishing in the top eight, sealing a spot in the UEFA Conference League for next season.
A message of thanks to the football world
In closing his retirement announcement, Milner made sure to thank the fans, his critics, and the family who supported him from day one.
“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.”
When James Milner arrived at Anfield on a free transfer from Manchester City in 2015, no one could have truly predicted the monumental impact he would have. Signed at 29 years old to provide veteran stability following Steven Gerrard’s departure, he instead became arguably the greatest free transfer in Premier League history.
Across eight seasons and 332 appearances, Milner served as the ultimate Swiss Army knife for Jürgen Klopp, famously sacrificing his own preferences to play an entire season at left-back, anchoring the midfield in massive European nights, and setting the standard for the squad’s famous “mental monster” culture.
For a grand total of zero pounds in transfer fees, the vice-captain helped deliver every major trophy available including the Premier League and the Champions League proving that while modern football regularly demands astronomical fees for elite talent, Liverpool found a multi-trophy-winning, record-breaking icon for absolutely nothing.
