James Milner has added another remarkable chapter to his long Premier League career, becoming just the fifth outfield player to feature in the competition at
the age of 40.
The Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder reached the milestone on Wednesday night, coming off the bench in a 1-1 draw against Manchester City — one of the many clubs he has represented during his top-flight journey. Milner had turned 40 only three days earlier, underlining his longevity at the highest level of English football.
His appearance places him in an exclusive group of players to have played Premier League football after their 40th birthday. Teddy Sheringham remains the benchmark, having made 24 appearances for Portsmouth in 2006, while Gordon Strachan, Ryan Giggs and Kevin Phillips complete the short list. Milner’s outing for Brighton marks the latest addition to that elite company.
The veteran’s age-defying season has already delivered another historic moment. Earlier in the campaign, at 39 years and 239 days, Milner converted a penalty in Brighton’s 2-1 home win over Manchester City, making him the second-oldest goalscorer in Premier League history.
Beyond personal milestones, Milner is also closing in on one of the league’s most enduring records. With 650 Premier League appearances to his name — accumulated across spells at Leeds United, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton — he now sits just three games shy of Gareth Barry’s all-time record of 653.
Milner has featured in five of Brighton’s last six league matches after returning from injury, keeping the record firmly within reach. Should he play in the club’s next four Premier League fixtures, he would surpass Barry and become the most capped outfield player in the competition’s history.
Fittingly, the record-breaking moment could arrive in a high-profile setting, with Brighton set to host rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday, 8 February. For a player whose career has been defined by consistency, adaptability and relentless professionalism, it would be another landmark worthy of one of the Premier League’s most enduring servants. Photo by wonker, Wikimedia commons.