Could Milner break appearance record after signing new deal?

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A one-year contract extension with Brighton gives James Milner the chance to break Gareth Barry's Premier League record

James Milner has signed a one-year contract extension with Brighton & Hove Albion, meaning he has the chance to break the long-standing record for most appearances by a Premier League player. 

Milner has played 638 matches in his Premier League career, the second-most by any player in history and only 15 behind Gareth Barry, the record-holder, who played 653 matches. 

Barry, who played for Aston Villa, Manchester City, Everton and West Bromwich Albion previously took the record off of Ryan Giggs, the Manchester United legend, in 2017.

Top 10 most PL appearances of all time
Player Appearances
Gareth Barry 653
James Milner 638
Ryan Giggs 632
Frank Lampard 609
David James 572
Gary Speed 535
Emile Heskey 516
Mark Schwarzer 514
Jamie Carragher 508
Phil Neville 505

Milner is only 16 appearances away from overtaking Barry's total, meaning Milner could play less than half of Brighton’s 38 league games in 2025/26 and yet still break the record. 

However, Milner managed only four appearances in 2024/25 due to injury, so the 39-year-old will need to stay fit if he hopes to beat Barry. 

“Last season he wasn’t able to help the team on the pitch as much as he would have liked, but around the squad his experience is invaluable, especially for the younger players,” Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler, who is seven years younger than Milner, told the club's official website after the midfielder signed a new deal. 

“He’s a great guy to have in our environment, who is always there for me and the team. I’m looking forward to working with him again.”

Milner through the years
Milner's remarkable career

Milner is set to feature in a 24th different Premier League season.

He made his debut aged 16 for Leeds all the way back in 2002 and has made an appearance in every season since.

The midfielder is set to extend his record in 2025/26 for the most seasons played in by a player.

Most seasons played in
Player Seasons
James Milner 23
Ryan Giggs 22
Gareth Barry 21
Rio Ferdinand 20
Frank Lampard 20
Age no barrier

On 4 January 2026, Milner will turn 40 years old. 

He could become only the fifth outfield player to play a Premier League match aged 40 or over. 

Oldest outfield players in PL history
Player Date Age Match
Teddy Sheringham 30/12/2006 40y 272d West Ham 0-1 Man City
Ryan Giggs 06/05/2014 40 158d Man Utd 3-1 Hull City
Kevin Phillips 21/10/2013 40y 88d Crystal Palace 1-4 Fulham
Gordon Strachan 03/05/1997 40y 83d Coventry 1-2 Derby
Bryan Robson 01/01/1997 39y 356d  Arsenal 2-0 Middlesbrough
Ashley Young 25/05/2025 39y 320d Newcastle 0-1 Everton
Dean Windass 26/12/2008 39y 269d Man City 5-1 Hull
Thiago Silva 19/05/2024 39y 240d Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth
Ray Wilkins 05/05/1996 39y 234d Nott'm Forest 3-0 QPR
Trevor Francis 20/11/1993 39y 215d Sheff Wed 0-0 Coventry

Nine of the 10 oldest players overall to feature in a Premier League match are goalkeepers, and the youngest of them, Jens Lehmann, was 41 years and 151 days old when he played his final match. 

Milner will be 40 years and 139 years old on the final day of the 2025/26 Premier League season on 24 May 2026.

Top 10 oldest players overall
Player Date Age Match
John Burridge 14/05/1995 43y, 162d Man City 2-3 QPR
Alec Chamberlain 13/05/2007 42y, 327d Watford 1-1 Newcastle
Steve Ogrizovic 6/05/2000 427, 237d Coventry 4-1 Sheff Wed
Brad Friedel 10/11/2013 42, 176d Spurs 0-1 Newcastle
Mark Schwarzer 14/03/2015 42y, 159d Leicester 0-0 Hull
Neville Southall 12/03/2000 41y, 178d Bradford 1-2 Leeds
Kevin Poole 01/01/2005 41y, 164d Bolton 1-1 West Brom
Jens Lehmann 10/04/2011 41y, 151d Blackpool 1-3 Arsenal
Teddy Sheringham 30/12/2006 40y, 272d West Ham 0-1 Man City
Edwin van der Sar 22/05/2011 40y, 205d Man Utd 4-2 Blackpool

Milner could become only the second ever Premier League player to score a goal aged 40 or over, after Teddy Sheringham, who scored for West Ham United against Portsmouth at the age of 40 years and 268 days old. 

Top five oldest goalscorers 
Player Date Age Match
Teddy Sheringham 26/12/2006 40y, 268d West Ham 1-2 Portsmouth
Dean Windass 22/11/2008 39y, 235d Portsmouth 2-2 Hull
Thiago Silva 07/04/2024 39y, 198d Sheff Utd 2-2 Chelsea
Ashley Young 04/12/2024 39y, 148d Everton 4-0 Wolves
Ryan Giggs 23/02/2013 39y, 86d QPR 0-2 Man Utd

See: More Premier League statistics