Veteran winger Ashley Young has confirmed he will retire from professional football, bringing the curtain down on a 23-year career that spanned England and Italy.
Ashley Young, 40, made the announcement on his personal social media, reflecting on a journey that took him from academy hopeful to Premier League title winner and England international.
Young wrote on Instagram: “From Sefton Road to Vicarage Road, to Villa Park, to Wembley, to Old Trafford, to the San Siro, back to Villa Park, to Goodison Park, and finally to Portman Road. This is a journey I could only dream of as a child! But this dream always comes to an end, Saturday may be the last game of my career, 23 years, and then leave.”
He began his career in the youth ranks at Watford, earning promotion to the first team in 2003 and marking his senior debut with a goal involvement. His rise soon led to spells with Aston Villa, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Everton.
Young joined United in 2011 and went on to make 261 appearances in all competitions, later wearing the captain’s armband at Old Trafford. His career also took him to San Siro with Inter, before a return to Villa and a stint at Goodison Park with Everton.
Last summer, he signed for Ipswich Town, bringing his club journey to a close at Portman Road. Earlier milestones included appearances at Wembley Stadium, Villa Park and Vicarage Road.
On the international stage, Young represented the England national football team at UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, adding another chapter to a career that stretched across two decades of top-level football.
