James Milner has drawn level with Gareth Barry by making his 653rd Premier League appearance after coming on in the 22nd minute of Brighton & Hove Albion’s clash at Aston Villa, Softfootball reports.
The milestone was confirmed on the Premier League’s official X handle, marking yet another historic moment in Milner’s remarkable career.
Their statement:
James Milner has equalled the all-time Premier League appearance record How many of the top 10 can you name?
The veteran midfielder now stands on the verge of history. If he features against Brentford on Saturday, 21 February, Milner will officially break the all-time Premier League appearance record. With Brighton still having 12 league fixtures remaining this season, it feels inevitable that he will soon stand alone at the top.
Milner’s journey began on 10 November 2002 when he made his Premier League debut as a substitute in Leeds United’s 4-3 win at West Ham United. At just 16 years and 309 days, he became the competition’s second-youngest player ever at the time.
That same season on Boxing Day, he became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history at 16 years and 356 days, breaking Wayne Rooney’s record — a milestone he held until April 2005.
Across his extraordinary career, Milner has represented six Premier League clubs: Leeds United (48 appearances), Newcastle United (94), Aston Villa (100 across two spells), Manchester City (147, winning two league titles), Liverpool (230, adding another title), and Brighton, whom he joined in the summer of 2023.
The 61-cap England international is also only the fifth outfield player to appear in the Premier League after turning 40, joining Gordon Strachan, Teddy Sheringham, Kevin Phillips and Ryan Giggs.
Sheringham holds the record for most appearances beyond 40 with 24, though Milner’s legendary longevity suggests he may yet extend his own remarkable story, whether at Brighton or elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney has expressed his unhappiness over the growing attention surrounding Frank Ilett’s viral haircut challenge, insisting the focus should have been on Manchester United’s performance. United’s 1-1 draw with West Ham ended hopes of a fifth consecutive Premier League victory a result that also means Ilett’s famous afro remains uncut for now.
The January 2026 transfer window has also proven brutal for managers. Between January 1 and February 11, several high-profile coaches have either been sacked or left their roles amid mounting pressure and internal issues, highlighting once again how unforgiving the Premier League can be both on and off the pitch.
