James Milner says he is “pretty open” to extending his playing career beyond this season, but the Brighton midfielder is undecided on whether he will sign a new contract.
The 40-year-old became the Premier League’s most-appeared player last weekend, coming out for the 654th time in the division during Brighton’s 2-0 win at Brentford.
Fabian Hurzeler said last month he expected Milner, who surpassed Gareth Barry’s previous record, to remain with the Seagulls for one more season, with his current contract set to expire in June.
While the former England international would be tempted, he said he was currently weighing up his next step.
“I think things change very quickly in football and I think when you get to my age, things change very quickly too,” he said.
“When I look at where I was last year – not being able to lift my foot for six months – to where I am this year, and even where I was maybe six weeks ago, when I wasn’t playing too many minutes and things weren’t going very well, you feel frustrated.
“But I’ve played more minutes in the last two games and when you’re part of a victory, it’s easier to turn around and say, ‘Yes, I would love to play one more year.’
“I’m pretty open right now. Whether I’ll do it or not, [continue playing]I’m not sure. We haven’t had any conversations, so obviously the club has to be interested too.
“I said at the beginning of the season, ‘let’s get to February and see where we are,’ and I know we’re there now, so we’ll see what happens.
“Right now, I’m just doing my job every day, and things can change quickly. Right now, I’m very open to it and hopefully the last few games have shown that I can still contribute on the field.”
Back at the Amex on Sunday… pic.twitter.com/ZSjKAzsq67
– Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) February 27, 2026
Milner, in the twilight of his 24-year professional career, knows retirement is not far away and is undecided about what he will do after finally hanging up his boots.
“I think it’s hard to know when the time is right, because I feel like I can still do it now,” he added.
“But do you get to the point where you can’t? Is it too long? I finished the game at the weekend and some of the guys said, ‘You can’t retire this year, you have to come back next year.’ So I think it’s always a difficult decision to find the right time.
“I feel like the coaching side I’ve been exposed to, in terms of a little bit of the last year here and the badges I’ve gotten, I’m interested in sometimes.
“But Jürgen [Klopp] “I’ve always said that every time you finish you need to rest and rest right away, and I think that’s pretty attractive right now.”
“Sometimes, [management] It attracts me, for sure. And then other times you see managers getting a new contract and being fired within two months, and I just don’t think people are getting the time they deserve now.
“I feel like I have fantastic knowledge from the people I’ve worked with from Terry Venables and Sir Bobby Robson, and then you go to the current manager. So in a way I think it would be a huge shame to lose all that knowledge and experience that I’ve built up and not be able to use it.”
