Record for most Premier League appearances: James Milner makes history as EPL mainstay

As one of the most physically demanding leagues in the world, the Premier League is considered the pinnacle of club football.

Players consider themselves elite just for having reached the top flight of English football, and only those in rarefied air can boast the consistency, durability, and reliability to build long-term careers in the league.

Few can boast those traits at the level of James Milner, who has spent 24 seasons in the rigors Premier League, and because of that exceptional level of fitness and football skill, is on the verge of an all-time record.

The Sporting News explains where Milner sits as the new holder of the career Premier League appearance record, and how he got there.

MORE: What player has scored the most goals in Premier League history?

Who has the record for most Premier League appearances?

The player with the most Premier League appearances in the history of the competition is James Milner after he was named in the starting lineup for Brighton's 2-0 win at Brentford on February 21, 2026. He is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records for his achievement, having received a certificate shortly after breaking the mark.

Milner went past his former Aston Villa and Manchester City team-mate Gareth Barry, who made 653 appearances over the course of a fabulous 20-year career. An appearance off the bench when Brighton played Villa on February 11 saw Milner match that mark.

The record for most appearances across the English football league is held by goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who played in an incredible 1,005 league games across an astonishing 32-year career, and 1,390 appearances across all competitions. Shilton also holds the record for most English top-flight appearances, playing 848 games from 1966 to 1991.

Premier League most appearances

Figures up to date as of February 21, 2026.

When did Gareth Barry retire?

Gareth Barry retired in August of 2020, having made 653 Premier League appearances and 833 in total across all competitions.

At the age of 38 by the time he hung up his boots, Barry won one Premier League title in 2012 and lifted the FA Cup the previous season, both with Manchester City. He made 53 appearances for England between 2000 and 2012.

At the time of his departure from the game, he also held the record for yellow cards in Premier League action with 119, 15 more than Wayne Rooney in second as the only two players having eclipsed the century mark.

What did James Milner say about his Premier League appearance record?

Asked why he had been able to break now ground, former Liverpool and Leeds favourite Milner told BBC Sport:

 It's the drive and hunger, you want to be the best every day, whether it's game or training.

I'm surrounded by a lot of young lads. I want to contribute to their careers, push them and help them get to the highest level as quick as possible. That's what I'm here to do.

I feel like I can still contribute minutes. I've been a bit frustrated this year, maybe not getting the minutes, but it's a fine balance because of course we have to develop players as well and we want to win.

Hopefully, I've proved the last few games that I can still contribute on the pitch. I'm delighted to be part of it and the dressing room, it's full of incredible characters and very good players, and a good up-and-coming manager.

How old is James Milner?

James Milner turned 40 years old on January 4 of this year, one day after earning 10 minutes off the bench making his 649th Premier League appearance in a 2-0 victory against Burnley.

He made his top-flight debut with Leeds at 18 years old in November 2002 by earning six minutes off the bench against West Ham in a 4-3 victory.

James Milner net worth and professional career

Brighton blog WeAreBrighton.com has estimated James Milner's career earnings across his entire Premier League tenure to be somewhere in the vicinity of £58 million ($79m).

He began his career with Leeds United in 2002, spending two seasons with the club before moving to Newcastle in 2004. He spent four seasons with Newcastle, although one of those was spent on loan at Aston Villa. He would eventually move to Villa permanently in 2008 where he would play two years until Man City swooped in and snatched up the 24-year-old midfielder.

Milner would win two Premier League titles with Man City across five seasons, plus one FA Cup and one EFL Cup before switching to Liverpool in 2015. Milner would spend the longest spell of his career at Anfield, making 332 total appearances for the club in all competitions across eight seasons, winning a Premier League title in 2020 as well as the 2022 FA Cup and League Cup double.

Upon turning 37, Milner left Liverpool and joined Brighton in 2023, where he has spent the last three seasons as a squad player.