James Milner Extends Contract with Brighton & Hove Albion
In a recent development, Brighton & Hove Albion announced that veteran midfielder James Milner has extended his stay with the club by signing a one-year contract renewal. This agreement comes after discussions that took place earlier in the spring, as Milner’s initial contract was set to conclude this summer.
The 39-year-old was limited to just four appearances during the 2024-25 season due to a thigh injury that curtailed his playtime significantly. Milner’s initial three games were all played in August before he faced injury setbacks.
Significant Contributions and Future Outlook
Notably, in the season’s concluding match—a remarkable 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur—Milner made a fleeting appearance as a substitute, taking the field for the final moments of the game, marking his 638th outing in the Premier League. Brighton’s head coach, Hurzeler, had expressed a desire to keep Milner for the upcoming 2025-26 season, emphasizing the positive direction of the team and acknowledging ongoing discussions about the player’s future.
As Milner gears up to celebrate his 40th birthday in January, he remains just 15 games short of equaling Gareth Barry’s all-time Premier League record of 653 matches played. Throughout his illustrious career in the league, he has contributed 55 goals and 86 assists.
James Milner’s Career Journey
Milner’s journey in professional football began when he debuted with Leeds United at the young age of 16 in 2002 after graduating from their academy. His career saw him briefly loaned to Swindon Town before securing a move to Newcastle United and later Aston Villa. In 2010, he joined Manchester City where he enjoyed five successful seasons, clinching the Premier League title twice.
Later, in 2015, Milner moved to Liverpool on a free transfer, contributing to the team’s first Champions League triumph in 2019 and adding a domestic league title in 2020 to his accolades. After leaving Liverpool, he joined Brighton in the summer of 2023 and has since appeared in 23 matches for the Seagulls, continuing to make an impact in the top tier of English football.
