James Milner equals Premier League appearance record with 653 matches

On February 11, 2026, Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder James Milner equaled the all-time Premier League appearance record during an away match against Aston Villa. Entering as a substitute in the 22nd minute for Carlos Baleba, the 40-year-old reached 653 appearances, matching the milestone previously held solo by Gareth Barry. Milner's career in the top flight spans 24 consecutive seasons, beginning with his debut for Leeds United in 2002 at age 16. Throughout his career, he has played for Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Liverpool before joining Brighton in 2023. While he shares the Premier League record with Barry, former goalkeeper Peter Shilton holds the overall English top-flight record with 848 appearances. Brighton head coach Fabian Huerzeler praised Milner’s longevity and role as a model professional despite the team's 1-0 defeat in the match.