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 |
Oldest players in Premier League history
-
John Burridge (43y, 162d)
-
Alec Chamberlain (42y, 327d)
-
Steve Ogrizovic (42y, 237d)
-
Brad Friedel (42y, 176d)
-
Mark Schwarzer (42y, 159d)
-
Neville Southall (41y, 178d)
-
Kevin Poole (41y, 164d)
-
Jens Lehmann (41y, 151d)
-
Teddy Sheringham (40y, 272d)
-
Edwin van der Sar (40y, 205d)
John Burridge (43y, 162d)
1 / 10
Alec Chamberlain (42y, 327d)
2 / 10
Steve Ogrizovic (42y, 237d)
3 / 10
Brad Friedel (42y, 176d)
4 / 10
Mark Schwarzer (42y, 159d)
5 / 10
Neville Southall (41y, 178d)
6 / 10
Kevin Poole (41y, 164d)
7 / 10
Jens Lehmann (41y, 151d)
8 / 10
Teddy Sheringham (40y, 272d)
9 / 10
Edwin van der Sar (40y, 205d)
10 / 10
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 |