BREAKING: James Milner retires from football after 24-year career | OneFootball

James Milner announced this morning his retirement from football after a 24-year professional career that has seen him make the most Premier League appearances of any player.

The 40-year-old midfielder made 22 top-flight appearances for Brighton this season, but has now decided it’s the right time to hang up his boots. Milner said the following on social media; “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.To have gone on to represent Newcastle, 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.”

He also thanked those who have been part of his journey and career. “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.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.”

The midfielder also won 61 senior caps for England between 2009 and 2016, where he was a regular in the Three Lions squad as well as winning 14 major trophies throughout his illustrious club career.