Ashley Young Announces Retirement from Professional Football After 23 Years

Ashley Young has confirmed his intention to retire from professional football following an illustrious career spanning more than two decades at the highest level. Ashley Young will end his playing career at Ipswich after saying it will be “23 years and out” at the end of this season. The announcement brings the curtain down on one of English football’s most enduring and versatile careers.

The Announcement

Ashley Young took to Instagram and wrote: “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. 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!” 

“I knew I was going to have to come to this decision at some point,” Young told Sky Sports News. “I’m not getting any younger and my body has started to talk to me now as well. To be able to go out on my own terms is the main thing for me. I know I’ve announced that now but, for me, my focus is solely on getting this club promoted again and back to the Premier League.”

Career Journey

Young’s decision ends a 22-year odyssey that began at Watford and took him to some of the world’s most iconic grounds, including Old Trafford and the San Siro. Young started his career as a winger at Watford and made his first senior appearance in 2003 under manager Ray Lewington. He became a first team regular in the 2004-05 season and was one of Watford’s key players in their promotion-winning 2005-06 season. 

In January 2007, he transferred to Aston Villa for an initial fee of £8 million where he won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2009. In June 2011, Young signed with Manchester United for a fee of around £17 million. He won five trophies at United, including the Premier League in 2013, the FA Cup in 2016 and the Europa League in 2017, and was appointed club captain in 2019.

Complete Career Timeline

The Man United Chapter

The Manchester United years were undoubtedly the most decorated period of Young’s career. Young has played in a variety of positions: though for most of his career chiefly a winger, he also experienced game time as a forward. During his later years at United, Young was reinvented as a defender, deployed as a left-sided full-back or wing-back.

Ashley Young, who spent eight and a half years at Manchester United, was an experienced member of Kieran McKenna’s promotion-pushing side in the Championship. His reinvention from a free-flowing winger to a dependable full-back is perhaps the most remarkable chapter of his story — a transformation that extended his career at the highest level by nearly a decade.

Italy and Beyond

During his time at Manchester United, he won the Premier League, FA Cup, Europa League and the League Cup before leaving for Inter Milan in 2020, where he won the Serie A title in his only season with the Italian giants.

International Career

Young made his England debut in November 2007 and won 39 caps for the national team, scoring seven goals. He represented England at two major tournaments, reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 with the Three Lions, and then getting to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup under Gareth Southgate.

Career Statistics at a Glance

Final Season at Ipswich

He ends his career at Ipswich Town, having joined the Portman Road club on a one-year deal in July 2025 after being released by Everton. Since moving to Portman Road in 2025, he has made 13 Championship appearances, though his recent involvement has been limited by a hip flexor injury sustained in late January. Young could finish his career on an incredible high as Ipswich host QPR at Portman Road, where a victory would secure automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Tributes Pour In

Former United goalkeeper David de Gea was among the first to react to his old teammate’s news, simply stating: “What a career.” Liverpool legend and former rival Jamie Carragher also offered his respect, saying: “Congratulations on an amazing career.” The official England account acknowledged his 22-year contribution to the game, adding: “Congratulations on a fantastic career!” Having evolved from an explosive winger into a versatile full-back, he leaves behind a legacy of adaptability and leadership across several top-tier clubs.

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