New Delhi: James Milner has broken the record for the most appearances in the Premier League during the match between Brighton and Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, February 21. The 40-year-old midfielder was named in Brighton’s starting XI for his 654th match, surpassing the record set by Gareth Barry.

Milner equalled Barry’s record in the match against Aston Villa, a club he played for from 2008 to 2010, on Wednesday, 11 February 11. He made his Premier League debut on 10 November 2002 in Leeds United’s 4-3 victory against West Ham United. At 16 years and 309 days, he became the league’s second-youngest player ever at the time.

Milner then created history by becoming the youngest goal scorer in the Premier League at 16 years and 356 days, breaking the record set by Everton’s Wayne Rooney only two months earlier. Milner also featured for Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool.

In two-and-a-half seasons with Brighton, the midfielder has made 35 Premier League appearances so far. He missed most matches in the 2024/25 season due to an injury. He has scored 56 goals and also has 90 assists to his name, which is the 10th-most in the league’s history.

James Milner’s Premier League career

Club	Years played	Apps	PL titles
Leeds United	2002-04	48	0
Newcastle United	2004-08	94	0
Aston Villa (loan)	2005-06	27	0
Aston Villa	2008-10	73	0
Man City	2010-15	147	2
Liverpool	2015-23	230	1
Brighton	2023-Present	35	0

(Stats by – Premier League)

‘He has such a great effort every day, and he is never satisfied’: Brighton and Hove manager Hurzeler

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler said that Milner is a role model on and off the pitch. He further added that he has such great discipline and is never satisfied.

“There’s no surprise why he’s where he is at the moment – because he has such great discipline. He has such a great effort every day and he is never satisfied. It’s a great day for him to show us again why he is the record-holder regarding the Premier League games,” Fabian Hurzeler told the BBC.

Milner has won the Premier League two times with Manchester City and once with Liverpool. He also won the FA Cup title and the League Cup with both clubs, and the Champions League with Liverpool.