Ashley Young to Retire After 23-Year Career

Ashley Young will retire from football at the end of the season, ending a 23-year career after the Ipswich Town defender turns 40 into his final weeks in the game. He said his full focus is on Saturday, when Ipswich could seal promotion back to the Premier League by beating QPR.

Ashley Young and Ipswich Town

Young joined Ipswich last summer and has made 15 appearances this season, though he is still sidelined with a hip injury. Even so, the retirement announcement arrives with the club still chasing promotion in the Championship.

“I am incredibly proud and fortunate to have achieved everything I have during my career,” Young said. “It’s not too often you sit and think about this while you are still in the game, but I have lived my dream during the last 23 years.”

He added: “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.”

Manchester United and Italy

Young’s career stretched well beyond Ipswich. He played more than 750 times for Watford, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Everton, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League with United and Serie A in Italy.

He also earned 39 England caps after making his international debut in 2007, giving him a career that spanned club and international football at the highest level. Kieran McKenna said his career in the game speaks for itself, while Mark Ashton said he has known Young for more than 20 years.

McKenna added that Young’s professionalism, competitiveness and quality have had a massive impact on the group this season, and Ashton said the veteran has been influential in so many ways. Both men said his focus remains on helping the team reach its goal before he steps away at season’s end.