- James Milner, 39, has agreed a new one-year contract extension and Brighton
- The former Manchester City and Liverpool star wants to play into his forties
- LISTEN: Was ‘Fergie Time’ real? Veteran Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg reveals all on the first episode of the Mail’s brand-new football podcast Whistleblowers
James Milner has agreed a one-year contract extension with Brighton.
Milner, who will turn 40 next January, is 15 appearances behind Gareth Barry’s Premier League record of 653.
Brighton announced the deal on Friday, which will see the midfielder stay at the Seagulls for a third season.
The former Liverpool and Manchester City star wants to keep playing into his 40s after fighting back from a knee injury and complications that threatened to end his glittering career.
Milner, who has made 61 appearances for England, the last one coming in 2016, feared his career was over after undergoing knee surgery in December.
But he came on for the closing minutes of Brighton’s victory at Tottenham on the final day of the Premier League season, to make his first appearance since August.
James Milner has agreed a one-year contract extension that will see him play into his forties
The former England star is just 15 apperances behind Gareth Barry’s league appearance record
Milner has fought back from a knee injury and complications that threatened his career
Following the renewal, Milner said: ‘Delighted to extend my time at the club and looking forward to getting back into pre season to work with the manager and this talented group of players.’
The 39-year-old was fit and ready to return from the knee surgery in December only to be set back by nerve damage.
‘I couldn’t lift my foot or my toes, not an ideal scenario,’ the Englishman, renowned for his deadpan delivery previously said.
‘I didn’t know whether I would be able to walk properly again let alone play football.
‘There was a chance I might not have come back at all. Nobody said quit. But with my age it was highly unlikely I would get back. I think that was one of the things that drove me most. My first aim was to try and get the knee as strong as possible which I did.’
Milner joined Brighton on a free from Liverpool in 2023.
Milner won the Premier League and Champions League at Liverpool in his eight years at Anfield
Fabian Hurzeler’s side finished in eighth place in the Premier League, missing out on Europe
He made his Premier League debut for Leeds at the age of 16 before winning the Premier League with Liverpool and Manchester City.
He also won the FA Cup and League Cup with both sides and the Champions League with Liverpool in 2019.
His apperance against Spurs on the final day was his 881st in senior club football.
Brighton finished in eighth place in the league last season under Fabian Hurzeler, just missing out on securing European football at the Amex
