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The English Premier League is the top tier of English club football. Founded in 1888 as the English Football League, it is the oldest football league in Europe as well as the most watched sports league in the world.
Christened as the English Premier League since the 1992-93 season, it has been graced by 49 different clubs. It has also seen some of the best players from across the world turn out day in and day out to produce football of the highest quality.
Gareth Barry's 653 Premier League appearances is the most among 37 different players to have made over 400 appearances in the EPL. Ryan Giggs (632) is next on the list, and the Welshman holds the record for most EPL appearances for a single club (Manchester United).
On that note, let us meet the five active players to have made the most appearances in the English Premier League:
5. Phil Jagielka - 364 (Sheffield United / Everton)
The English centre-back made his Premier League debut for Sheffield United in the summer of 2006-07 before moving to Everton in 2007-08. After 12 seasons at Goodison Park, Jagielka returned to Sheffield at the start of this season.
In the Premier League, Jagielka has scored 18 goals in 42 appearances for Sheffield United (2006-07, 2019-20), and made 322 appearances for Everton between 2007-08 and 2018-19.
Jagielka was the Premier League Footballer of the Month in February 2009 for Everton.
4. Ashley Young - 366 (Manchester United / Aston Villa / Watford)
Ashley Young made his Premier League debut for Watford in 2006-07 before moving to Aston Villa in 2007-08, where he played for five seasons. Young moved to Manchester United in the summer of 2011-12.
The bulk of Young's 366 Premier League appearances have come for Manchester United (189), followed by 157 for Aston Villa and 20 for Watford.
The left-back has scored 47 Premier League goals (29 for Aston Villa, 15 for Manchester United and three for Sheffield United). Young's lone Premier League title came with Manchester United in 2012-13, which marked the Old Trafford club's record-extending 13th and most recent English top-flight title.
3. Aaron Lennon - 380 (Leeds / Tottenham / Everton / Burnley)
Aaron Lennon made his Premier League debut for Leeds United in 2002-03. The much traveled right-winger has since played for Tottenham Hotspur (2005-06 to 2014-15), Everton (2014-15 to 2017-18) and Burnley (2017-18 onwards).
Lennon has made 380 Premier League appearances (11 for Leeds, 246 for Tottenham, 65 for Everton and 38 for Burnley).
The bulk of Lennon's 34 Premier League goals have come for Tottenham (26), while he has also scored seven for Everton and one for his present club Burnley.
2. Leighton Baines - 412 (Everton / Wigan Athletic)
Leighton Baines made his Premier League debut for Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2005-06 before moving to Everton two seasons later, where he has stayed ever since.
Baines has made 412 Premier League appearances (Everton-340, Wigan-72).
All but 3 of Baines' 32 Premier League goals have come for Everton, but the left-back hasn't scored one since 2017-18. He is yet to play an EPL game this season, having made just six appearances last season.
Baines' penalty conversion rate of 91% (20/22) is second only to Matt Le Tessier's 96% (25/26) in the list of top-10 penalty scorers in the Premier League.
1. James Milner - 526 (Leeds / Newcastle / Aston Villa / Manchester City / Liverpool)
The much-traveled James Milner has played for five different Premier League teams, and his tally of 526 Premier League appearances is the most by any active player.
Since making his EPL debut for Leeds United in 2002-03, Milner and Lennon hold the record for most consecutive Premier League seasons by an active player.
Milner has made 48 appearances for Leeds, 94 for Newcastle United, 100 for Aston Villa, 147 for Manchester City and 137 for his present club Liverpool. The midfielder has scored Premier League goals for each of the five different teams he has played in: five for Leeds, six for Newcastle, 12 for Aston Villa, 13 for Manchester City and 18 for Liverpool.
Milner is a two-time Premier League winner, winning both with Manchester City (in 2011-12 and 2013-14). The midfielder has an outstanding penalty conversion rate in the Premier League too, missing only 2 of his 18 spot-kicks for a success rate of 89%.
