Ashley Young confirms that this season will be the last of a long playing career, with Ipswich Town’s push for Premier League promotion set to be the final target. Ipswich sit second in the Championship and will guarantee an immediate return to the top division with a win over Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, which could also be Young’s final professional appearance.
Young turns 41 in July and has spent more than two decades competing at elite level. The adaptable wide player has represented Watford, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Inter, Everton and Ipswich across that period, while also collecting 39 England caps and featuring prominently in the national team’s run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
The former England international announces
that retirement will follow at the end of the current campaign, regardless of Ipswich’s final position. Saturday’s decisive fixture against Queens Park Rangers therefore carries extra significance, as a victory would both seal promotion and close a 23-year senior career that started before the Premier League’s current generation emerged.
Young began as an attacking winger but later became known for work at full-back on both flanks. During a successful spell at Manchester United, Young lifted the Premier League, EFL Cup, FA Cup and Europa League. A move to Inter followed, where Young contributed to the Serie A title secured under Antonio Conte in the 2020-21 season.
During a stint with Everton from 2023 to 2025, Young set a notable age-related record. When scoring against Wolves in December 2024, Young became the fourth-oldest goalscorer in Premier League history at 39 years and 148 days, underlining longevity at the highest domestic level in England while still operating in demanding wide and defensive roles.
With Ipswich this season, Young has featured 15 times in all competitions and supplied one assist, offering experience during the promotion push. In August, Young appeared in a Championship match for the first time since the 2006 play-off final, when playing for Watford against Leeds. The gap of 19 years and 79 days is the longest between two Championship appearances by any player.
Young reflected on the length and variety of the journey in a social media message posted before the decisive weekend. The message highlighted the progression from local beginnings to major stadiums and several major clubs, while also hinting that the Queens Park Rangers meeting could represent the last chapter of a professional story that has lasted more than two decades.
From Sefton Road to Vicarage Road to Villa Park to Wembley to Old Trafford to San Siro back to Villa Park to Goodison Park and finally to Portman Road. Its been some journey that I only dreamt of as a boy! But with this dream there has to be an ending and Saturday might be the pic.twitter.com/2Q6bpw51VfAshley Young (@youngy18) April 30, 2026
From Sefton Road to Vicarage Road to Villa Park to Wembley to Old Trafford to San Siro back to Villa Park to Goodison Park and finally to Portman Road, Young wrote in a social media post. "It's been some journey that I only dreamt of as a boy! But with this dream there has to be an ending and Saturday might be the last game of my professional career 23 years and OUT!"
Young’s decision closes a career that spans domestic titles in England and Italy, a major contribution to the 2018 World Cup campaign and service to several historic clubs. If Ipswich defeat Queens Park Rangers and complete promotion, Young will leave the game having helped return another side to the Premier League at the age of 40.
