Former Manchester United and England international Ashley Young has announced his retirement from football at the age of 40.

New Telegraph recalls that Young began his career at Watford and subsequently played for Aston Villa, Manchester United, Inter Milan, and Everton, initially as a winger and later transitioning to a full-back position.

He concluded his career at Ipswich Town, having signed a one-year contract with the Portman Road club in July 2025 following his release from Everton.

Young debuted for England in November 2007, earning 39 caps and scoring seven goals for the national team.

Announcing the development, he wrote, “It’s been some journey that I only dreamt of as a boy,” Young wrote on social media.

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“But with this dream there has to be an ending and Saturday might be the last game of my professional career … 23 years and OUT.”

In the second automatic promotion spot, Ipswich will play Queens Park Rangers in their Championship season finale on Saturday.

They are two points ahead of Middlesbrough, who are in fourth, and one point ahead of Millwall, who are in third. If any of those clubs overtake them, they will go to the play-offs.

Young began his professional career in 2003 when he made his Watford debut. He went on to win the Serie A title with Inter Milan and the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup, and League Cup with Manchester United.

On January 20, he made his final appearance for the Tractor Boys as a late substitution in a 2-0 victory over Bristol City.

“I knew I was going to have to come to this decision at some point,” Young told Sky Sports News. “I’m not getting any younger and my body has started to talk to me now as well.

“To be able to go out on my own terms is the main thing for me.

“I know I’ve announced that [retirement] now but, for me, my focus is solely on getting this club promoted again and back to the Premier League.”