James Milner extends Albion stay: Experience or Expired?

James Milner has committed another year to Brighton, as the club announce a further year’s extension to his deal.

Milner signed on a free transfer to the Seagulls from Liverpool in summer 2023, and his impact both on and off the pitch has been valuable.

The Albion squad AND James Milner

Despite only recording 19 appearances in an Albion shirt, Milner has been a worthwhile addition to the ranks.

Brighton have one of the youngest squads in the top flight, with an average age of around 26. This is taking into account the oldest player in the Premier League, as Milner stands at 39-years-old.

As we all know, this young squad is stacked with talent upon talent. Only yesterday, Brighton announced the signing of Charalampos Kostoulas [18] as their new £30 million striker. He links up with fellow Greek talent Stefanos Tzimas [19].

Milner adds valuable balance and experience. There is one thing having an abundance of talent, but utilising and nourishing that talent is a key part of the growth of the club. As we’ve seen at the highest level, it isn’t always the player’s who have the biggest transfer fees that end up setting the league alight. In fact, it is quite the opposite.

Milner has spent the majority of his career being a free transfer, notably with his move from Manchester City to Liverpool whilst at the peak of his powers. As I covered on FourFourTwo this week, at 29-years-old in 2015, he helped add something different at the club. Heavily praised for his hard working mentality, stability and consistency in training. Milner takes care of his body like no other.

There is a reason why players like him, and on the highest end of the scale, Cristiano Ronaldo, spend so much time at the top level.

Milner won it all at Liverpool: The Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and a Super Cup. Helping him develop a winners mentality with the elites of world football. Having a player with the pedigree and know-how in the hottest of furnaces is an invaluable addition of knowledge for young players.

Whilst Kostoulas could end up having a more glamorous career than Milner, he wouldn’t be able to find that potential without the strong mentality and actual hard working output on a consistent basis.

Consistency is key. It isn’t when you feel like it, or when you’re ‘motivated’. It’s every day. 24/7, without fail. Milner’s reality of remaining at Premier League level, even sporadically, is a testament to his ability to perform consistently.

Can he help on the pitch?

There is still a case to suggest James Milner is valuable on the pitch as well as off it for Albion in 2025/26. For context of the season’s year, Milner made his Premier League debut for Leeds in 2002. 23-years-ago.

Nevertheless, we’ve seen consistency at full-back and in midfield. Despite having an expected slow turn of pace these days, Milner has proved particularly at the beginning of the season that he is more than capable.

As the season started last season, he kept new £25 million signing Mats Wieffer out of the side. Starting with Yasin Ayari [21] and Carlos Baleba [21], it was clear to see the value of experience when balanced together.

Unfortunately for Milner, simultaneously with the reality of age in the top level of sport, the body tends to struggle when playing week in, week out. If minutes are managed correctly, with the vision to help kill games off and offer the less glamorous side of football, there is still value in that role.