Former England international Ashley Young, a familiar face to Birmingham City fans from his recent Championship appearance against the Blues at St Andrew's, has announced his retirement from professional football. The 40-year-old, currently with Ipswich Town, will bring the curtain down on a remarkable career spanning over two decades, a journey that saw him compete at the highest levels of the sport.

Young's extensive career saw him make more than 750 club appearances, scoring 88 goals across spells with prominent clubs including Watford, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Inter Milan, and Everton. His journey through English and Italian football has left a significant mark, showcasing his versatility and enduring quality.

Reflecting on his journey, Young shared in an Instagram post: "From Sefton Road to Vicarage Road to Villa Park to Wembley to Old Trafford to San Siro back to Villa Park to Goodison Park and finally to Portman Road. It's been some journey that I only dreamt of as a boy." He added, "But with this dream there has to be an ending and Saturday might be the last game of my professional career."

His professional path began at Watford, where he made his senior debut in 2003 and played a crucial role in their promotion to the Premier League in 2006. A move to Aston Villa followed in 2007, where he established himself as one of the league's most effective wide players, earning the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2009.

Young's impressive performances led to a high-profile transfer to Manchester United in 2011 under the legendary manager Alex Ferguson. His time at Old Trafford was arguably his most successful, securing the Premier League title in 2012-13, the FA Cup in 2016, and the Europa League in 2017. Over nine seasons, he transitioned from an attacking winger to a full-back, eventually serving as club captain.

Following his successful tenure at United, Young ventured to Italy, winning the Serie A title with Inter Milan in the 2020-21 season. He later returned to Aston Villa before subsequent spells at Everton and Ipswich Town, where he currently plays. On the international stage, Young earned 39 caps for England between 2007 and 2018, representing his country at the 2012 European Championship and the 2018 World Cup.