Celebrities

James Philip Milner (born 4 January 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester City and theEngland national team. He will join Liverpool on 1 July 2015 subject to passing a medical.^[4] He previously played for Leeds United,Swindon Town, Newcastle United and Aston Villa. Playing as a central midfielder with Aston Villa, Milner was named PFA Young Player of the Season and in the PFA Team of the Season for the 2009–10 Premier League season; however, after his move to Manchester City, Milner was more often utilised as a winger.^[5]

Milner's talent in football, cricket, and long-distance running was recognised at a very young age. He represented his school in these sports and played football for amateur teams from Rawdon and Horsforth. He supported Leeds United from a young age and was aseason ticket holder at the club. In 1996, he joined the Leeds United youth academy. He made his debut for the first team in 2002, aged only 16, and gained prominence as the youngest player to score in the Premier League.

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Milner scored his first Premier League goal for Manchester City against Everton on 24 September 2011. Two matches later, he scored his second, against former club Aston Villa in a 4–1 win. The following week, Milner had a hand in two goals as Manchester City won the Manchester derby at Old Trafford 6–1, inflicting Manchester United's heaviest home league defeat since 1930.^[81] On 3 January 2012, Milner scored his third goal of the season, a penalty, against Liverpool. Manchester City won the match 3–0. Over the course of the 2011–12 season Milner made 26 Premier League appearances as Manchester City won the league title for the first time in 44 years.On 17 August 2010, it was reported that Aston Villa had agreed a deal with Manchester City to sell Milner subject to a medical. The deal was reported to be worth around £26 million,^[76] including a player exchange of Stephen Ireland.^[77] Milner made his debut for City on 23 August 2010 in a 3–0 home win againstLiverpool, where he set up the first goal for former Villa teammate Gareth Barry.^[78] Milner scored his first competitive goal for Manchester City in an FA Cupthird-round match at Leicester City which ended in a 2–2 draw.^[79] The Leicester match was the start of a cup run that saw Manchester City reach the 2011 FA Cup Final. Milner was an unused substitute as Manchester City beat Stoke City 1–0 to win the cup.^[80]

On 6 October 2012, Milner scored his first goal of the 2012–13 season from a free-kick to seal a 3–0 win against Sunderland.^[82] On 20 October, he received his first career red card in a 2–1 win at West Bromwich Albion.^[83] On 28 November, he scored away at Wigan Athletic in a 2–0 win for City. On 13 January 2013, he scored City's opening goal in a 2–0 away win at Arsenal, it was the first time a City player had scored away at Arsenal in the League since 2007 and City's first win in the league at Arsenal since 1975.^[84] On 8 April, he scored in the Manchester derby as City beat Manchester United 2–1 at Old Trafford.^[85]

On 10 December 2013, Milner scored the winning goal in a 3–2 win against the reigning European champions Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in theUEFA Champions League, becoming the first English player to score for Manchester City in the competition that season.^[86][87]

On 4 June 2015, Milner agreed to join Liverpool on a free transfer.