The 10 oldest outfield players in Premier League history

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 25 Sept 2025 17:51 BST
• 4 min read

Analysis

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United forward Teddy Sheringham is the oldest outfield player to ever feature in the Premier League.

The ex-England international was one of the best attackers during the early years of the Premier League and he made his final appearance in the competition for West Ham United against Manchester City in December 2006.

Sheringham was 40 years, 8 months and 28 days old when he featured at Upton Park and he set a new record for the oldest ever outfielder to play in the Premier League in the process.

The second-oldest outfield player in Premier League history is Man Utd legend Ryan Giggs - who won a whopping 35 trophies across an illustrious career at Old Trafford. He played against Hull City in May 2014 aged 40 years, 5 months and 7 days.

Serial goalscorer Kevin Phillips is in third place after appearing for Crystal Palace against Fulham at 40 years, 2 months and 26 days old back in October 2013.

He is narrowly ahead of Scotland legend Gordon Strachan, who made his final Premier League appearance for Coventry City versus Derby County in May 1997. He was 40 years, 2 months and 24 days old.

Bryan Robson is the fifth-oldest outfielder to play in the Premier League (39 years, 11 months and 21 days old), while Ashley Young is sixth. The former Man Utd winger made his final English top flight appearance for Everton against Newcastle United in May 2025 aged 39 years, 10 months and 16 days.

Hull City icon Dean Windass ranks in seventh place (39 years, 8 months and 24 days old), while Premier League legend James Milner is eighth. His last appearance for Brighton & Hove Albion came aged 39 years, 8 months and 16 days, although he is expected to beat this record throughout the 2025-26 season.

Thiago Silva is the ninth-oldest outfielder in Premier League history after featuring for Chelsea versus Bournemouth on the final matchday of the 2023-24 campaign.

The late Ray Wilkins completes the top 10. He played for QPR against Nottingham Forest at 39 years, 7 months and 21 days old in May 1996.

The 10 oldest outfield players in Premier League history

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