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James Milner Ties Premier League Appearance Record at 653

The 40-year-old hit the milestone as a first-half substitute at Aston Villa, sharpening focus on the gap between appearances and actual playing time.

Overview

  • Milner entered in the 22nd minute against Aston Villa to make his 653rd Premier League appearance, drawing level with Gareth Barry.
  • This season he has featured in 15 league matches with two starts after a month out injured, underscoring his role as a late-game option for Brighton.
  • Across their careers Milner has logged 40,408 league minutes to Barry’s 54,439, and 435 starts to Barry’s 618.
  • Milner holds the record for substitute appearances with 217, compared with Barry’s 35, a context analysts use when weighing appearance totals.
  • He can move clear of Barry later this season—potentially as early as Feb. 21 at Brentford if selected—while fan discussion continues over his recent late cameos.