In 2020, Young signed forInter Milan, with whom he won theSerie A title, becoming only the third Englishman to win Italy's top flight league. He returned to his former club Aston Villa in 2021, helping them to a 7th-placed finish in his second season, and subsequently signed forEverton in 2023. In 2025, he signed a one-year deal with Ipswich after being released by Everton.
Young earned 39caps forEngland between 2007 and 2018, scoring seven international goals. He was part of the squads forUEFA Euro 2012 and the2018 FIFA World Cup, reaching the semi-finals of the latter.
Young joined theWatford academy system at 10 years of age. He developed there until the summer of 2001, when he was informed by the club that he wouldn't receive a full scholarship and could look for another football team. Despite being turned away, Young stayed on at the club on a part-time basis and endeavoured to improve himself as a player and prove he could make it to the first team. He started to train with the Under-18s, despite being 16, and was starting games by the end of the season. He progressed on to the Under-21s and was eventually offered a professional deal by the club.[4][5] The 18-year-old was handed his first-team debut underRay Lewington in September 2003, scoring as asubstitute againstMillwall.[6] He achieved five substitute appearances that season, scoring three goals, and made his first start for the club in theLeague Cup. Young came to prominence in the 2004–05 season, playing a part in 34 of Watford's league matches as they struggled to survive in theChampionship. Although he failed to find the net, his performance during this season earned him the club's Young Player of the Season award.[7]
UnderAidy Boothroyd in the 2005–06 season, Young was given a new lease of life as a striker and right winger. Young started 41 League matches, finding the net 15 times, including a playoff semi-final goal againstCrystal Palace, as Watford qualified for theplay-offs and eventually beatLeeds United 3–0 to gain promotion to thePremier League. During that season, Young scored a number of spectacular goals, including free-kicks againstPlymouth Argyle and Leeds, a shot into the top corner from 30 yards out againstCoventry City, and a curling shot againstQueens Park Rangers. It was during this season, though, that Young was sent off for the first time in his career, in the local derby away atLuton Town.[8]
Young began Watford's2006–07 Premier League season well, scoring three times in the league, including a last minute strike in a 3–3 draw withFulham (he had also scored Watford's second goal in the match), and a goal againstMiddlesbrough, in Watford's first win of the season in October. He also scored a free-kick in a 2–1 home win overHull City in the League Cup.[9] In the January 2007 transfer window, three unnamed clubs made £5 million offers for the under-21 international.[10] Watford rejected these approaches, as well as an offer of £7 million, again from an unnamed club.[11] An improved offer of nearly £10 million fromWest Ham United was accepted. However, Young rejected the move, opting to wait for offers from clubs for whom relegation was not an issue.[12]
On 23 January 2007, Aston Villa completed the signing of Young for a fee of £8 million (rising to £9.65 million with add-ons).[13] At the time, this was the highest fee Aston Villa had ever paid for a player.[14] On 31 January 2007, he scored on his debut for Villa atSt James' Park againstNewcastle United, but Villa went on to lose 3–1.[15] Young started the2007–08 season well, receiving several Man of the Match awards, culminating in a call-up to the England squad.[16]
On 20 April 2008, Young scored two goals and assisted two goals for Aston Villa againstBirmingham City atVilla Park and Villa went on to win the match 5–1.[19] He also scored the winner against Danish clubOdense Boldklub in Villa's home leg of theUEFA Intertoto Cup third round. On 10 October 2008, Young won thePremier League Player of the Month award. This was due to his performances in the2008–09 Premier League season. Having also won the award in April 2008, Young joined the list of players who have won the award more than once includingCristiano Ronaldo,Wayne Rooney andSteven Gerrard. On 7 December 2008, in the 3–2 win overEverton, Young scored two goals, one being an injury time winner after Everton'sJoleon Lescott had equalised seconds earlier.[citation needed] Young signed a new four-year contract until 2012 on 4 November 2008.[20]
On 10 January 2009, Young was again awarded the Premier League Player of the Month award for December, along with O'Neill, who won the Manager of the Month award. He became the first ever player to win three Premier League Player of the Month awards in the same year.[21] During a match against Sunderland on 18 January 2009, Young was sent off for a two-footed foul on Sunderland'sDean Whitehead.[22] On 26 April 2009, he won thePFA Young Player of the Year award.[23]
On 24 August 2009, Young scored apenalty as Aston Villa won 3–1 against Liverpool atAnfield.[24] He did, however, miss a penalty three days later in a home tie in theUEFA Europa League againstRapid Wien. Young won two penalties in the first half of the match (one that he missed, the other that was converted byJames Milner) as Aston Villa were eliminated from the tournament on the away goals rule.[citation needed]
During the2010–11 season, Young becamevice-captain of the club and played in a new free role behind the striker, allowing him to move from wing to wing and through the centre. Young scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season with a direct free-kick in the Premier League match at home toBolton Wanderers on 18 September 2010. He ended the season with nine goals and fourteen assists in 39 appearances for Villa in all competitions. With one year left to run on his current contract, Young stated that he would not make a decision on his future until the end of the season. On 20 June 2011, new Villa managerAlex McLeish admitted that he was resigned to losing Young, stating, "It's not confirmed yet but it does seem likely."[25]
On 23 June 2011, Young completed a move to Manchester United for an undisclosed fee, reportedly around £17 million,[26] having passed a medical the day before, beating Liverpool to the signing.[27] He signed a five-year deal with the club.[28] He was handed the number 18 shirt previously worn byPaul Scholes.[29] He made his debut for United in a 3–2derby win overManchester City in the2011 FA Community Shield, playing the full 90 minutes and making an assist.[30]
He made his league debut for United againstWest Bromwich Albion on 14 August 2011, setting up the first goal for Wayne Rooney and forcing an own goal after a run down the left flank and cross, in a 2–1 away win.[31] He scored his first two goals for United on 28 August in an 8–2 victory against Arsenal atOld Trafford. Both occurring after cutting inside from the left flank and bending two right foot shots into the far corner. Young made his debut in theUEFA Champions League on 27 September 2011, scoring a headed goal in the 90th minute to help Manchester United to a 3–3 draw againstBasel. After a long-term injury, Young returned on the field atStamford Bridge in a 3–3 Premier League draw against Chelsea on 5 February 2012. On 16 February, he scored a goal for the lead in aEuropa League 2–0 away win againstAjax at theAmsterdam Arena. On 4 March 2012, Young scored two goals and made an assist againstTottenham Hotspur atWhite Hart Lane in a 3–1 Premier League win.[32] On 2 April, he scored in a 2–0 win against Blackburn Rovers atEwood Park.[33]
After playing the position in pre-season, Young started inLouis van Gaal's first competitive game on 16 August 2014 as awing-back in a 3–5–2 formation, which saw United lose 2–1 toSwansea City. He suffered a hamstring injury during a 1–1 draw againstStoke City on 1 January 2015.[34][35] Young made his return on 3 February in a 3–0 win againstCambridge United, coming on in the 81st minute forMarcos Rojo.[36] On 4 March, Young scored his first goal of the season in a 1–0 victory over Newcastle United.[37] On 12 April, he was named Man of the Match after he scored the equalising goal and provided two assists in a 4–2 home win over Manchester City.[38] He played an instrumental role in United's 2–1 win over Crystal Palace on 9 May, winning a penalty whichJuan Mata converted and providing the assist forMarouane Fellaini's header, leading to him again being Man of the Match.[39] In the following match on 17 May, Young provided an assist forAnder Herrera's volley against Arsenal, which finished in a 1–1 draw.[40] Young spent the season playing both on the wing and at wing-back under Van Gaal, the latter being a position which the manager felt was his best.[41]
On 7 August 2015, Young signed a new three-year contract with Manchester United, keeping him at the club until June 2018, with the option to extend a further year.[42] Young made only one start in United's opening seven Premier League games, this being in the opening game on 8 August 2015, a 1–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur.[43] On 12 September, Young played through debutantAnthony Martial to score his first goal for United in a 3–1 victory againstrivals Liverpool.[44] Young returned to the starting XI at left-back on 4 October against Arsenal, ending in a 3–0 away defeat.[45] He started at right-back against West Brom on 7 November, which ended in a 2–0 win for United; this was a position he frequently played during November, December and January due to injury toAntonio Valencia.[46]
On 2 January 2016, Young assisted Anthony Martial with a cross into the box to open the scoring against Swansea City, with the game ending in a 2–1 win for United.[47] Young suffered a 'severe groin injury' against Liverpool on 17 January which led to him being sidelined for several months.[48] He made his return on 10 April against Tottenham Hotspur, replacingMarcus Rashford at half time, playing upfront in a 3–0 defeat.[49] The decision to play Young as a striker saw Van Gaal face heavy criticism, however the Dutchman defended his actions by explaining he "wanted more running in behind."[50][51] Young scored his only goal of the season on 17 May, the last day of the Premier League, in a 3–1 win againstAFC Bournemouth after coming on as a substitute for Anthony Martial.[52] On 21 May, he won the FA Cup after defeating Crystal Palace 2–1 in thefinal after extra time, playing at both striker and left-back after replacing Marcus Rashford in the 72nd minute – marking his third domestic trophy with the club.[53]
Young (left) playing for Manchester United in 2017
The appointment ofJosé Mourinho as manager led to Young's game time being limited in the first half of the season. His first appearance was on 15 September 2016 in the Europa League againstFeyenoord, coming on as a 63rd-minute substitute for Juan Mata in a 1–0 loss.[54] His first start was againstNorthampton Town in theEFL Cup on 21 September, with Young playing on the wing in a 3–1 victory.[55] Young featured in the next two games as a substitute, againstLeicester City in a 4–1 league victory on 24 September and on 29 September againstZorya Luhansk in a 1–0 win in the Europa League.[56][57] From October to January, Young managed to only make four appearances – all of which came as starts at wing-back or at full-back. Despite being limited for chances, one of these came against rivals Liverpool on 17 October, in a 0–0 draw at Anfield.[58]
Young's next start came against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup on 19 February 2017, playing the full 90 minutes in the 2–1 away win.[59] After this game Young started to play far more regularly, featuring heavily in March and April. He was an unused substitute for the2017 EFL Cup Final againstSouthampton on 26 February, which United won 3–2.[60] Young made his first assist of the season on 19 March against Middlesbrough, crossing the ball to Marouane Fellaini, who headed in the opening goal of a 3–1 victory.[61] On 16 April, Young captained Manchester United for the first time in a 2–0 win against Chelsea.[62] His season ended after suffering an injury againstCelta Vigo in the Europa League semi-final first leg on 4 May, after coming on forHenrikh Mkhitaryan in the 78th minute.[63]
Young (right), with teammateRomelu Lukaku, playing for Manchester United in 2017
Young's first start of the campaign came at right-back on 12 September 2017 in a 3–0 win against Basel in the Champions League, assisting with the opening goal with a cross to Marouane Fellaini in the 35th minute, he was also captain for the match.[64] His performance led him to start at left-back in United's 4–0 victory over Everton on 17 September.[65] On 28 November, Young scored a brace for the first time since March 2012 against his former club Watford, the opening two goals, one of them being a 30-yard freekick into the top left corner, in a 4–2 win atVicarage Road.[66]
In February 2019, Young signed a new contract with Manchester United until 2020.[67] He was appointed as United'sclub captain in August 2019.[68]
Young scored the final goal of his Manchester United career on 12 December 2019, scoring the first in a 4–0 victory againstAZ Alkmaar in the group stages of theEuropa League.[69]
Young signed for ItalianSerie A clubInter Milan on 17 January 2020 for the remainder of the2019–20 season, taking the number 15 shirt as the number 18 that he wore at Manchester United was occupied byKwadwo Asamoah. His contract also included an option to extend for another season.[70] The transfer fee was reportedly around €1.5 million (£1.28 million).[71] He became one of three formerPremier League players to have signed for Inter Milan in the same window, withVictor Moses andChristian Eriksen joining the club soon after.[72] In his first game for the club, Young provided the assist forLautaro Martínez in a 1–1 draw againstCagliari.[73] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 loss againstLazio on 16 February.[74]
On 17 June 2021, Young signed a one-year contract withAston Villa to return to the club on a free transfer for a second spell.[76] He officially joined Villa on 1 July, when his Inter contract expired.[77] Upon arrival at Aston Villa he was handed the number 18 shirt that he wore during his time at Manchester United, rather than the number 7 he wore during his first spell at the club. Young made his second debut for Villa on 14 August in a 3–2 defeat at former club Watford.[78]
On 10 June 2022, Young was released by Villa.[79] He became a free agent on 1 July, but on 4 July, the club confirmed that Young had re-signed for another season until 2023.[80] On 27 July, Young was named club captain for the upcoming season, withJohn McGinn being named on-field captain.[81] On 10 October, he scored from 25 yards againstNottingham Forest in a 1–1 away draw in the Premier League. It was his first goal in his second spell at Villa, with his previous for The Villans coming in 2011.[82]
On 31 May 2023, Villa announced that Young's contract would not be renewed, and he left the club on 30 June.[83]
On 13 July 2023,Everton announced the signing of Young as a free agent on a one-year contract with an option for a further 12 months, in which he continued to wear his number 18.[84] On 12 August 2023, he made his official debut, playing the full match in a 1–0 loss againstFulham in the Premier League.[85]
On 17 May 2024, the club said it had offered Young a new one-year contract.[86] On 4 December 2024, Young became Everton's oldest goalscorer at the age of 39 years and five months with a 20-yard free-kick in a 4–0 victory againstWolverhampton Wanderers.[87] This goal also makes him the fourth-oldest goalscorer in the history of the Premier League, only behindThiago Silva,Dean Windass, andTeddy Sheringham.[88] In May 2025, the club announced that Young would leave at the end of the2024–25 season at the expiration of his contract.[89]
On 23 July 2025, Young signed a one-year contract withIpswich Town, returning to theChampionship for the first time in over two decades.[90] On 8 August, he made his debut for the club, coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw againstBirmingham City in the league.[91]
As a result of his form for Watford during the 2005–06 season, in February 2006 Young earned a call-up toPeter Taylor's England Under-21 League squad to face an ItalianSerie B squad alongside teammateChris Eagles. Young started alongside Eagles in the 1–0 win, playing the first half. His continued form into the 2006–07 season earned him a firstEngland under-21 call-up to faceSwitzerland in September 2006. Young played the last 15 minutes of the match as England scored a late goal to win 3–2, topping their group, and reaching a play-off for a place in the2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. At the finals, Young played three times. He took part in the semi-finalpenalty shoot-out against hostsNetherlands, scoring twice in the shoot-out as England lost 13–12. From 2006 to 2007, he earned 10 caps for the under-21s.[92]
On 31 August 2007,Steve McClaren called Young up to the fullEngland squad for the first time, to faceRussia andIsrael in theUEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers.[16] He was again called up for the Euro 2008 qualifiers to faceEstonia and Russia. On 16 November 2007, Young made his international debut, by coming on as a half-time substitute for England in a friendly againstAustria.[93] He then appeared in the England friendly againstGermany in November 2008, coming on as a second-half substitute. He was also part of the starting XI inFabio Capello's England squad in the friendly against theNetherlands at the Amsterdam Arena on 12 August 2009. Young did not make the cut in Capello's 30-man squad for the2010 World Cup in South Africa.[94]
On 12 October 2010, Young made his first start for England in aEuro 2012 qualifying match againstMontenegro.[95] He scored his first international goal in a friendly away toDenmark on 9 February 2011 inCopenhagen, which was the winning goal.[96] Young also scored again againstSwitzerland on 4 June 2011, as he got the equaliser with a volley from the edge of the area, after coming off the bench forFrank Lampard at half-time.[97] On 6 September 2011, Young scored the only goal for England in a Euro 2012 qualifying 1–0 win againstWales.[98] On 7 October 2011, he scored England's first goal away against Montenegro, and set upDarren Bent for the second.[99] England drew the match 2–2 to secure qualification forUEFA Euro 2012.[99] On 29 February 2012, Young scored his fifth international goal in a 3–2 home loss to the Netherlands in a friendly match played atWembley Stadium.[100]
On 26 May 2012, Young scored his sixth, as well as his fourth straight, international goal in a UEFA Euro 2012 warm-up match againstNorway.[101] He became the first English footballer since Wayne Rooney to score in four straight international appearances. In his next match for England againstBelgium he provided the assist for England's first goal. Young played in all four of England's matches at Euro 2012, culminating with a quarter-final defeat toItaly on penalties; Young was one of two England players to miss his penalty as Italy won 4–2 to reach a semi-final against Germany. He and the other unsuccessful player,Ashley Cole, faced online racial abuse for the miss, which was investigated by the police.[102]
After not being called up to the national team for almost four years, Young was recalled byGareth Southgate for the upcoming friendly matches against Germany andBrazil on 2 November 2017.[103] He featured in the latter game on 14 November, coming on forRyan Bertrand in the 80th minute, seeing out a 0–0 draw.[104]
Young was named in Southgate's 23-man squad for the2018 FIFA World Cup.[105] He was England's first-choice left-back in Russia, playing the entirety of their first two group matches againstTunisia andPanama.[106][107] With qualification for the knockout stage secure after winning both matches, Young was rested for the final game againstBelgium,[108] before returning for the round of 16 tie against Group H winnersColombia. That match went to extra time, but Young was replaced byDanny Rose 12 minutes into the additional period and played no part in the penalty shoot-out after the match finished as a 1–1 draw.[109] England won 4–3 on penalties and progressed to a quarter-final againstSweden, against whom Young again played the full 90 minutes as England won 2–0, with Young providing the assist forHarry Maguire's opening goal from a corner.[110] In the semi-final against Croatia, Young again started the match, but was again replaced by Rose at the start of extra time, with the score at 1–1 after 90 minutes.[111] England ultimately lost the match 2–1 after extra time, and Young did not play in the third-place play-off against Belgium.[112]
Young has played in a variety of positions: though for most of his career chiefly awinger,[10] he has also experienced game-time as aforward – underAidy Boothroyd at Watford and once underLouis Van Gaal at Manchester United[50][51] – as well as in a free role behind the striker for Aston Villa.
During his later years at United, Young was re-invented as a defender, deployed as aleft-sided full-back orwing-back.WhoScored's Martin Laurence stated in 2018 that "Luke Shaw can't get a kick at Manchester United and that is down to the form of Ashley Young, who has adapted to another new role superbly. Young is now proving to be an aggressive and intelligent defender, all while still offering a threat going forwards with his delivery into the box. On current form the 32-year-old shouldn't just make the cut, but be considered as England's first choice."[113]
Young has courted controversy, having been accused ofdiving by the press and has been spoken to by former managersSir Alex Ferguson andDavid Moyes about diving to gain an unfair advantage.[114][115]
Young was born inStevenage, Hertfordshire.[116] He has one older brother[117] and two football-playing younger brothers,Lewis, who made his debut for Watford in 2008,[118] and Kyle, who in April 2009 was training at theArsenal Academy.[119] Young attendedThe John Henry Newman School in Stevenage, and played school football alongsideFormula One driverLewis Hamilton, who was in the same year.[117] Young's Jamaican-born father[120] supports Tottenham Hotspur, while Young himself, like his older brother, favoured Arsenal. His hero and "role model on and off the pitch" wasIan Wright.[117] Young has been married to Nicky Pike since June 2015. They had planned a wedding in 2011 but called it off two days before.[121] His sonTyler Young is also a professional footballer.[122]
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