Aston Villa: Ex Premier League Players

Where are these ex Aston Villa Premier League players now?

Welcome to the Aston Villa legends page – the gateway to information on ex players who have played in the Premier League.

In addition to information on the club’s ex players we have also added the club’s Premier League statistics which include the top goalscorers, most appearances and also the football club’s final league position for each year that they have featured in the EPL.


Mark Bosnich – Premier League Appearances: 206 | Clean Sheets: 77

After spells with Manchester United and ChelseaAston Villa legend Mark Bosnich moved back to Australia to play for the Central Coast Mariners and Sydney Olympic before retiring in 2009. Read More..


David James – Premier League Appearances: 572 | Clean Sheets: 170

David James was playing as goalkeeper for Bristol City in the Championship at the age of 41 before being released at the end of the 2011-12 season. Read More..


Brad Friedel – Premier League Appearances: 450 | Clean Sheets: 132

Legendary Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel finally called time on his long career in 2015 after a four year spell with Tottenham Hotspur. Read More..


Shay Given – Premier League Appearances: 451 | Clean Sheets: 113

In his prime regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Shay Given hung up his goalkeeping gloves at the end of the 2016-17 season after being released by Stoke City. Read More..


Thomas Sorensen – Premier League Appearances: 364 | Clean Sheets: 107

A fan’s favourite at Sunderland, Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorenson retired from playing in 2017 after two seasons playing in the Australian A-League for Melbourne City. Read More..


Gareth SouthgatePremier League Appearances: 426 | Goals Scored: 17

Gareth Southgate finished his playing career at Middlesbrough in 2006 when he was appointed manager of the side after Steve McLaren left to take over as coach of the England national side. Read More..


Stephen WarnockPremier League Appearances: 212 | Goals Scored: 8

Former Liverpool and Aston Villa left-back Stephen Warnock retired from playing at the end of the 2018-19 season after a short spell playing for Bradford City on loan from Burton Albion. Read More..


Richard Dunne – Premier League Appearances: 431 | Goals Scored: 11

A tough-tackling defender, highly appreciated at every club he played for, Richard Dunne retired from playing in 2015 when he was released by Queens Park Rangers. Read More..


Joleon LescottPremier League Appearances: 288 | Goals Scored: 23

Former Premier League defender Joleon Lescott retired from playing in June 2017 at the age of 35 after a short spell with Sunderland. Read More..


Mark Delaney Premier League Appearances: 158 | Goals Scored: 2

Former Aston Villa and Welsh international defender Mark Delaney retired from playing in 2007 at the age of 31 due to a succession of knee injuries which hampered him throughout his career. Read More..


Alan HuttonPremier League Appearances: 151 | Goals Scored: 3

Former Spurs and Aston Villa right-back Alan Hutton hung up his boots at the start of 2020 after he was released from Aston Villa at the end of his contract in 2019. Read More..


Martin Laursen – Premier League Appearances: 84 | Goals Scored: 9

An Aston Villa legend and former club captain, Martin Laursen was forced to retire from playing in 2009 at the age of 31 after a number of knee problems. Read More..


Steve Staunton – Premier League Appearances: 288 | Goals Scored: 13

A 20 year career played mostly at the top level with Liverpool and Aston Villa was finally over in 2005 when Steve Staunton played his last game for Walsall whilst simultaneously holding the assistant manager’s role. Read More..


Gary Charles – Premier League Appearances: 98 | Goals Scored: 3

A skilful defender whose career was cut short early at the age of 32, Gary Charles officially retired from playing in 2002 after an injury-ravaged time at his boyhood club West Ham United. Read More..


Ronnie Johnsen – Premier League Appearances: 151 | Goals Scored: 8

A member of the 1999 treble winning Manchester United team, Ronny Johnsen retired from playing in 2008 after returning to his native Norway where he had three seasons with Valarenga. Read More..


Earl Barrett – Premier League Appearances: 195 | Goals Scored: 1

Earl Barrett retired from playing in 2000 whilst at his last club Sheffield Wednesday who were relegated from the Premier League that season. Read More..


Paul McGrath – Premier League Appearances: 166 | Goals Scored: 6

After a long, illustrious career mostly with Manchester United and Aston Villa, Paul McGrath retired in 1998 at the age of 39 and settled in County Wexford, Ireland. Read More..


Alan Wright – Premier League Appearances: 305 | Goals Scored: 5

One of the shortest players to appear in the Premier League at 5 feet 4 inches, Alan Wright hung up his boots in 2011 after dropping into non league football with Fleetwood Town. Read More..


Kevin Richardson – Premier League Appearances: 207 | Goals Scored: 7

Kevin Richardson, the former Aston Villa captain finally called time on his career in 2000 after a short spell with Blackpool. Read More..


Olof Mellberg – Premier League Appearances: 232 | Goals Scored: 8

An Aston Villa legend who captained the club for five years, Olof Mellberg retired from playing in 2014 after a short spell back in his native Sweden with FC Copenhagen. Read More..


Nicky ShoreyPremier League Appearances: 176 | Goals Scored: 3

Former Premier League defender Nicky Shorey retired from playing in 2016 after a short spell playing in the National League South with Hungerford Town. Read More..


George Boateng Premier League Appearances: 384 | Goals Scored: 17

Considered a legend at each of the four of the Premier League teams he played for, George Boateng retired from playing in 2013 after a season in Malaysia with Liga Super side T-Team FC. Read More..


Tom CleverleyPremier League Appearances: 242 | Goals Scored: 14

Former Premier League midfielder Tom Cleverley was forced to retire from playing at the end of the 2022/23 season due to injuries after six years playing for Watford where he was club captain. Read More..


Steve Stone – Premier League Appearances: 263 | Goals Scored: 25

After winding down his career at Leeds United, Steve Stone retired from playing in 2006 after a succession of injuries which plagued him throughout his football life. Read More..


Gareth BarryPremier League Appearances: 653 | Goals Scored: 53

Gareth Barry, who currently holds the record for the most Premier League appearances, finally hung up his boots at the end of the 2019-20 season after two years playing in the Championship with West Bromwich Albion. Read More..


Ray Houghton – Premier League Appearances: 105 | Goals Scored: 8

Former Liverpool and Aston Villa player Ray Houghton retired from playing in 2000 at the age of 38 after dropping into non league football with Stevenage Borough. Read More..


Kieran RichardsonPremier League Appearances: 265 | Goals Scored: 24

Former Premier League player Kieran Richardson retired from playing in 2016 after a brief spell playing in the Championship with Cardiff City. Read More..


Dwight Yorke – Premier League Appearances: 375 | Goals Scored: 123

After finishing his playing career at Sunderland following the dismissal of Roy Keane in 2008, Dwight Yorke briefly assisted the manager of the Trinidad and Tobago national team. Read More..


Paul MersonPremier League Appearances: 280 | Goals Scored: 46

After a long career in the top divisions, Paul Merson finally retired from playing in 2006 after dropping down the leagues and turning out for Tamworth FC. Read More..


Peter WhittinghamPremier League Appearances: 88 | Goals Scored: 4

Cardiff City legend Peter Whittingham played his last professional game in 2018 for Blackburn Rovers before his contract was terminated by mutual consent. Read More..


Ian Taylor – Premier League Appearances: 247 | Goals Scored: 29

A huge favourite amongst the Aston Villa faithful due to his committed displays and knack of scoring crucial goals, Ian Taylor finally retired from playing in 2007 after dropping down the leagues to play for Northampton Town. Read More..


Steve SidwellPremier League Appearances: 200 | Goals Scored: 21

Former Reading and Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell officially retired from playing in August 2018 having missed the whole of the previous season with Brighton & Hove Albion due to back and ankle injuries. Read More..


Dion Dublin – Premier League Appearances: 312 | Goals Scored: 111

After a career spanning 20 years Dion Dublin retired from playing in 2008, ending his career at Norwich City after six years at Aston Villa. Read More..


Lee Hendrie – Premier League Appearances: 251 | Goals Scored: 27

Lee Hendrie was a fabulously gifted footballer who retired from playing in 2013 after a spell in Indonesia and also in non league football with Tamworth and Corby Town. Read More..


Gavin McCann – Premier League Appearances: 301 | Goals Scored: 12

Although Gavin McCann had a number of injuries throughout his career he still managed to chalk up over 300 Premier League appearances for three different teams.

His career was cut short in 2011 when he finally had to retire due to injury at only 33 years old. Read More..


John Carew – Premier League Appearances: 123 | Goals Scored: 38

The 6 foot 4 inch tall, heavily tattooed Norwegian legend John Carew officially retired from playing in 2013 after a season in the Championship with West Ham United. Read More..


Ugo EhioguPremier League Appearances: 355 | Goals Scored: 19

Premier League legend Ugo Ehiogu retired from playing professionally in 2009 after his contract was terminated by Sheffield United in a bid to cut costs. Read More..


Dean Saunders – Premier League Appearances: 196 | Goals Scored: 45

After retiring in 2001, Dean Saunders started his coaching career at Bradford City before moving to Blackburn Rovers to work alongside his former manager Graeme Souness. Read More..


Nolberto Solano – Premier League Appearances: 302 | Goals Scored: 49

Nolberto Solano, the Premier League’s first Peruvian player finally retired from the game in 2012 at the age of 37 after a spell at Hartlepool United. Read More..


Garry Parker – Premier League Appearances: 144 | Goals Scored: 19

An important part of the Aston Villa team which were runners up to Manchester United in the Premier League’s inaugural season, Garry Parker retired from playing in 2001 after six seasons at Leicester City. Read More..


Steve Froggatt –Premier League Appearances: 75 | Goals Scored: 4

A promising Premier League career was cut short in 2000 after a horrific injury whilst playing for Coventry City when he was just 27 years old. Read More..


Mark Draper – Premier League Appearances: 183 | Goals Scored: 13

Mark Draper, a very talented midfielder, called time on his Premier League playing career in 2003 whilst at Southampton although he briefly came out of retirement to play for Dunkirk in 2009. Read More..


Andy TownsendPremier League Appearances: 215 | Goals Scored: 13

After winding down his career with West Bromwich Albion, Andy Townsend was forced into retirement in 2000 due to a recurrent knee injury. Read More..


Stiliyan Petrov – Premier League Appearances: 185 | Goals Scored: 9

Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov’s Premier League career was cruelly cut short at the age of 32 after he was diagnosed with acute leukaemia in March 2012. Read More..


Simon Grayson – Premier League Appearances: 118 | Goals Scored: 0

After spells in the Premier League with Aston Villa and Leicester City, Simon Grayson retired from playing in 2006 after four years at Blackpool. Read More..


Stan Collymore – Premier League Appearances: 163 | Goals Scored: 62

Prolific at every club he played for, legendary Premier League striker Stan Collymore retired from playing professionally in 2001 at just 30 years old. Read More..


Darius VassellPremier League Appearances: 265 | Goals Scored: 52

Former Aston Villa and Manchester City striker Darius Vassell officially hung his boots up in January 2016 after having a long spell out of the game following a cruciate ligament injury whilst playing for Leicester City in the Championship. Read More..


Dalian Atkinson – Premier League Appearances: 73 | Goals Scored: 22

One half of Aston Villa’s ‘Deadly Duo’ strike partnership alongside Dean Saunders, Dalian Atkinson retired from playing in 2001 after a spell in South Korea. Read More..


Julian Joachim – Premier League Appearances: 156 | Goals Scored: 42

A winger with lightning-fast pace, Julian Joachim finally retired from playing in 2016 at the age of 41 after many years playing non-league football. Read More..


Savo Milosevic – Premier League Appearances: 90 | Goals Scored: 29

Aston Villa’s record signing when they paid £3.5 million for him in 1995, Savo Milosevic retired from playing in 2008 after a season playing in Russia for Rubin Kazan. Read More..


Marlon Harewood – Premier League Appearances: 137 | Goals Scored: 28

The much-travelled striker Marlon Harewood finally retired from playing professionally in 2016 after spending a season playing in the National League North with Nuneaton Town. Read More..


Emile Heskey – Premier League Appearances: 516 | Goals Scored: 110

Highly regarded at every club he played for and one of the few players who have scored over 100 goals in the Premier League, Emile Heskey retired from playing in 2016 after two seasons playing in the Championship with Bolton Wanderers. Read More..


Peter CrouchPremier League Appearances: 468 | Goals Scored: 108

Former Premier League player Peter Crouch finally hung up his boots in July 2019 after spending eight seasons with Stoke City. Read More..


Darren BentPremier League Appearances: 276 | Goals Scored: 106

Former Premier League striker Darren Bent retired from playing in 2019 after spending a year without a club after he was released by Derby County at the end of the 2017-18 season. Read More..


Gabriel AgbonlahorPremier League Appearances: 322 | Goals Scored: 74

Ex Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor retired from playing at just 32 years of age when his contract with the club expired at the end of the 2017-18 season. Read More..


Premier League Statistics

This table shows the players who have made the most Premier League appearances for Aston Villa and who has scored the most goals for the club in the EPL (info correct as of 06/09/23).

Top EPL GoalscorersGoalsMost EPL AppearancesGames
Gabby Agbonlahor73Gareth Barry365
Dwight Yorke60Gabby Agbonlahor315
Dion Dublin51Alan Wright260
Juan Pablo Angel44Lee Hendrie251
Christian Benteke42Steve Staunton244
Gareth Barry41Ian Taylor233
Julian Joachim39Olof Mellberg232
Dean Saunders39Ugo Ehiogu229
John Carew37Gareth Southgate191
Darius Vassell35Stiliyan Petrov185

Statistics provided by 11v11

Last Updated on 11 March 2024 by Admin