Brighton midfielder James Milner made his 654th Premier League appearance against Brentford, surpassing Gareth Barry's record during a 2-0 victory. The 40-year-old started for the Seagulls and contributed to their first win in 13 league games. Milner's milestone highlights his enduring career across multiple clubs.
James Milner achieved a historic milestone on February 21, 2026, by making his 654th Premier League appearance, breaking the record previously held by Gareth Barry. The veteran midfielder started for Brighton & Hove Albion in their match against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, helping secure a 2-0 win that ended Brighton's run of just one victory in their previous 13 league outings.
Brighton scored through Diego Gomez and Danny Welbeck, either side of halftime, as Fabian Hürzeler's side capitalized on counters against a Brentford team that had been in strong form, winning seven and drawing two of their prior 11 league games. Brentford, sitting seventh with 40 points and eyeing European football, suffered back-to-back home defeats. Milner's appearance moved him clear of Barry, his former teammate at Aston Villa and Manchester City.
Speaking after the game, Milner attributed his longevity to "drive and hunger," saying, "You want to be the best every day, whether it's game or training." He expressed satisfaction in contributing despite limited minutes this season, noting, "Hopefully, I've proved the last few games that I can still contribute on the pitch." Milner, who debuted for Leeds in 2002 at age 16, has played for Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool, and now Brighton. His honors include two Premier League titles with Manchester City, one with Liverpool, plus FA Cups, League Cups, and the Champions League with the Reds.
Brighton manager Hürzeler praised Milner as a "role model on and off the pitch," adding, "He always puts the team first... I can never remember a day he didn't give 100% effort." Former teammates like Wayne Rooney and Micah Richards lauded his professionalism, with Rooney saying, "It's an incredible record and it just shows that when you work hard, it pays off."
Milner's contract with Brighton expires at the end of the season. The match kicked off at 3pm and was not broadcast live in the UK due to the Saturday afternoon blackout.
