James Milner set a new Premier League record on Saturday by making his 654th appearance during Brighton and Hove Albion's match against Brentford. The 40-year-old midfielder started the fixture at the Gtech Community Stadium to move ahead of the previous record held by Gareth Barry.
Milner made his professional debut for Leeds United in 2002 at the age of 16. According to the Premier League, his career has spanned over 23 seasons and included spells at Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Liverpool. He joined Brighton as a free agent in 2023.
Speaking to BBC Sport earlier this week, the former England international noted that longevity in the top flight requires significant physical discipline. Milner has won three Premier League titles during his career, two with Manchester City and one with Liverpool. He also holds the record for the most different seasons played in the competition, per official statistics. Brighton remains in the top half of the table following the result.
