English footballer

James Milner

James Philip Milner is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. A versatile player, Milner has played in multiple positions, including wing, in midfield and at full back. He has the highest number of appearances in the Premier League, and holds the record for the longest playing career in the Premier League, surpassing Gareth Barry, with 657 appearances as of 21 March 2026, having played in the English top-flight for 24 years. He is also one of only five outfield players to have made a Premier League appearance at the age of 40 or older, joining Teddy Sheringham, Ryan Giggs, Gordon Strachan, and Kevin Phillips.

Born

1986

January 4

Died

Living

Era

1980s

Country

About

James, in brief

James Philip Milner is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. A versatile player, Milner has played in multiple positions, including wing, in midfield and at full back. He has the highest number of appearances in the Premier League, and holds the record for the longest playing career in the Premier League, surpassing Gareth Barry, with 657 appearances as of 21 March 2026, having played in the English top-flight for 24 years. He is also one of only five outfield players to have made a Premier League appearance at the age of 40 or older, joining Teddy Sheringham, Ryan Giggs, Gordon Strachan, and Kevin Phillips.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

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  1. 1986 Born

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