Ashley Young has confirmed he will retire from professional football at the age of 40, bringing an end to a distinguished 23-year career.
The former Manchester United and England international, who currently plays for Ipswich Town, said his immediate focus is on helping the club secure promotion to the Premier League on the final day of the Championship season.
In a statement released by Ipswich, Young reflected on his career, saying he feels proud and fortunate to have achieved so much in the game. He described the past 23 years as living his dream and noted that he will take time in the coming weeks to decide his next steps, though his attention remains firmly on the upcoming match.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna praised Young’s impact, highlighting his professionalism, competitiveness, and quality. He added that working with the veteran—both previously at Manchester United and now at Ipswich—has been an honour, and that Young is determined to end his career by helping the team achieve promotion.
Over the course of his career, Young featured for several clubs including Watford, Aston Villa, Everton, Inter Milan, and Ipswich Town.
He also earned 39 caps for England national football team, representing his country at UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
During his nine-year spell at Manchester United, Young won multiple honours, including the Premier League, FA Cup, Europa League, and League Cup. He later added a Serie A title with Inter Milan in the 2020–21 season before returning to England for another stint with Aston Villa.
