Liverpool, the Premier League giants, have announced the departure of James Milner from the club at the end of the season when his contract expires. This news comes as part of several confirmed departures from Anfield.
Milner's exit will coincide with the departure of Roberto Firmino, which had been anticipated for some time. Additionally, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will also be leaving as their contracts come to an end at the conclusion of the current campaign.
With all four players set to be out of contract, Liverpool will see significant changes to their squad ahead of the next season.
"We can confirm Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave the club upon the expiry of their contracts this summer," said a Liverpool statement.
"Special acknowledgments will be paid to the quartet at Anfield, with further tributes to follow at the end of the season."
Veteran former England midfielder Milner, 37, has been linked with a move to either high-flyers Brighton or hometown club Leeds following an eight-year stint at Anfield.
At the age of 16 in 2002, James Milner marked his Premier League debut for Leeds, kickstarting a remarkable career. He subsequently had stints at Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Manchester City before eventually joining Liverpool in 2015.
Milner's impressive tally of 617 appearances in the Premier League places him third on the all-time list, trailing only Gareth Barry (652) and Ryan Giggs (632). However, all three are still some distance away from the record set by legendary England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who accumulated a remarkable 848 games in the old First Division. Milner's longevity and consistent performances have solidified his status as one of the league's most durable and accomplished players.
