James Milner Shocks Premier League: Liverpool Legend Reveals Next Move & Retirement Plans

James Milner will run out at the Amex this afternoon with a new number on his back, but the same relentless drive that has defined his two-decade career. The Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder has swapped No. 6 for No. 20, a gesture he says is “the least I can do” to honour former Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota, who died in a road accident earlier this summer. At 39, Milner is beginning an unprecedented 24th Premier League campaign, eclipsing the longevity records of Gareth Barry and Ryan Giggs. Asked by Sky Sports why he keeps going, the Leeds-born veteran replied: “Because there’s still petrol in the tank—and a few creaky ankles won’t change that”. Roberto De Zerbi will unleash that fuel today against Fulham in Brighton’s season opener, banking on Milner’s versatility to steady a midfield missing the injured Billy Gilmour. The Seagulls finished eighth last term, but insiders say De Zerbi views Milner’s experience as “worth ten points” in the quest for Europe. Milner’s summer was spent in equal parts grief and graft. The Yorkshireman attended Jota’s funeral in Porto before cutting short his family holiday to lead Brighton’s pre-season lactate tests—still finishing in the top three for endurance. “There’s no hiding place,” he told The Athletic when asked about the physical standards he sets for younger teammates, joking that dressing-room cameras would be a step too far even for him. Away from the pitch, Milner has renewed calls for stricter road-safety campaigns in Portugal and the UK, describing Jota’s death as “preventable.” Brighton have partnered with Sussex Police to launch a #Drive20 initiative—mirroring Milner’s new shirt number—to promote 20 mph limits around schools and stadium approaches. Club sources expect the campaign to feature on LED boards throughout the matchday broadcast, giving global visibility to the tribute. In football terms, the switch to No. 20 brings Milner full circle. He wore the same digits at Leeds United when he became the Premier League’s second-youngest scorer in 2002. Twenty-three years later, the number re-emerges as a memorial and a motivational tool. “Diogo’s energy was infectious,” Milner said. “If wearing 20 helps me channel even a fraction of that, then I’ll have done something right for Brighton and for him.” The Premier League’s fixture computer has supplied a narrative flourish: should Milner feature today and in next week’s trip to Anfield, he will hit 650 top-flight appearances—only Gareth Barry (653) sits above him. Few would bet against Milner overtaking that mark by September; fewer still would doubt he has the appetite to stretch the record deep into his forties. For Brighton supporters, that combination of sentiment and steel could be season-defining. For search engines, “James Milner No. 20 tribute,” “Milner 24th Premier League season,” and “Brighton vs Fulham team news” are already trending queries. Expect them to stay that way every time the evergreen midfielder laces his boots—creaky ankles and all.