Who is the oldest player to appear in a Premier League match?

John Burridge is the oldest player to appear in a Premier League match, doing so at 43 years and 162 days old.

Burridge set the record while playing for Manchester City against Queens Park Rangers on 14 May 1995. The goalkeeper had already enjoyed a long career before the Premier League era began, making his longevity especially notable. He had played for numerous English clubs, including Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Southampton, Sheffield United and Manchester City.

The record is based on a player’s age when appearing in a Premier League fixture. It is therefore different from records for the oldest goalscorer, oldest starter or oldest player in English league football overall. Goalkeepers also tend to dominate age records because their position often allows players to remain effective for longer than outfield players.

Brad Friedel is sometimes mentioned in connection with this statistic because he became the Premier League’s oldest appearance-maker during part of the 2011–12 season. However, Friedel did not surpass Burridge’s all-time mark. Burridge’s 1995 appearance remains the canonical answer.