Ashley Young, the former Manchester United and England winger turned full-back, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 40, bringing the curtain down on a distinguished 23-year career that spanned the highest levels of the English and Italian games.
Young, who joined Ipswich Town on a one-year deal in July 2025, made the announcement on Wednesday via his social media accounts and through a statement on the club’s official website. He said his immediate focus remains on helping Ipswich secure promotion from the Championship (second division) on the final day of the season on Saturday, when they face Queens Park Rangers.
“I am incredibly proud and fortunate to have achieved everything I have during my career,” Young said. “I have lived my dream during the last 23 years. It’s now time for some reflection on what I’ve been able to achieve, and the next few weeks and months will be when I decide what I am going to do next. But that is all to come. My full focus is on Saturday and helping this club achieve our goal, which is promotion back to the Premier League.”
Ipswich currently sit second in the Championship, and a victory on Saturday would guarantee their return to the top flight. Young has been sidelined since January with a hip flexor injury but has remained a key presence within the squad, contributing experience and leadership during the club’s promotion push.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna, who also worked alongside Young at Manchester United, led the tributes. “Ashley’s career in the game speaks for itself, and it has been an honour to have worked with him, firstly at Manchester United and then here at Ipswich this season,” McKenna said. “The professionalism, competitiveness, and quality he displays every day has had a massive impact on the group this season.”
Young’s career began at Watford before a high-profile move to Aston Villa, where he established himself as one of the most exciting wide players in England. He joined Manchester United in 2011 for around £17 million and spent nine years at Old Trafford, winning the Premier League, the Football Association (FA) Cup, the Europa League, and the League Cup. He was also appointed club captain in 2019.
He departed for Inter Milan in 2020, where he contributed to the club’s Serie A title win in the 2020-21 season, becoming only the third Englishman to lift Italy’s top-flight trophy. He later returned to Aston Villa before joining Everton in 2023 and signing for Ipswich ahead of this season.
At international level, Young earned 39 caps for England, scoring seven goals. He represented the national team at the European Championship (Euro) 2012 and the 2018 Football Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup, where England reached the semi-finals under Gareth Southgate.
