Former England footballer Ashley Young, aged 40, has declared his retirement from the professional sport, culminating a successful career exceeding two decades. Young commenced his football journey with Watford in 2003 and later played for clubs like Aston Villa, Manchester United, Inter Milan, and Everton. Initially a winger, he transitioned into a proficient full-back over time.
His final stint will be with Ipswich Town, where he signed a one-year contract in July 2025 after departing Everton. Despite facing injuries, Young appeared 13 times for Ipswich this season, mostly as a substitute, with his last match in January against Bristol City. On the international stage, he earned 39 caps for England, scoring seven goals.
In a statement released by Ipswich Town, Young expressed his immense pride and gratitude for his accomplishments throughout his 23-year career. He mentioned looking forward to reflecting on his achievements and deciding on his future plans in the coming weeks and months. However, his immediate focus remains on assisting Ipswich in their pursuit of promotion to the Premier League.
Town Manager Kieran McKenna praised Young’s illustrious career, emphasizing his professionalism, competitiveness, and impact on the team both at Manchester United and Ipswich. McKenna acknowledged Young’s dedication to concluding his career by contributing to Ipswich’s goal achievement.
