Biography
Who is Ashley Young?
Early life and career
Ashley Young Simon Young was born in Stevenage, United Kingdom, on July 9, 1985. He grew up in the British town and attended The John Henry Newman School during his youth. From an early age, he developed an interest in association football and joined the academy system at Watford at ten years of age. He worked through the youth ranks and eventually earned a professional contract with the club.
The young player made his senior debut for Watford in September 2003 under manager Ray Lewington, scoring as a substitute against Millwall. He gradually established himself as a first-team regular during the subsequent seasons. His strong performances helped Watford achieve promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs in the 2005-06 season, where he scored fifteen goals in league matches.
Aston Villa and Manchester United
In January 2007, Ashley transferred to Aston Villa for a fee of £8 million, which was the highest fee the club had ever paid for a player at the time. During his time with Aston Villa, he won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2009 and earned multiple Premier League Player of the Month accolades. He played extensively as a winger and was selected for the Premier League Team of the Year.
In June 2011, Ashley signed with Manchester United for a fee of around £17 million. During his tenure at Manchester United, he won five major trophies, including the Premier League title in 2013, the FA Cup in 2016, and the Europa League in 2017. He was later appointed club captain in 2019 before eventually moving on to other international and domestic opportunities.
Later career and international play
After his successful spell at Manchester United, Ashley signed for Inter Milan in 2020. With the Italian club, he won the Serie A title, becoming only the third Englishman to win Italy's top-flight league. He later returned to Aston Villa in 2021 and subsequently signed for Everton in 2023, followed by a one-year deal with Ipswich in 2025.
On the international stage, Ashley earned 39 caps for the England national team between 2007 and 2018, scoring seven international goals. He represented his country in the squads for UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, helping the team reach the semi-finals during the latter tournament. He also played for the England national under-21 team earlier in his career.
Height and personal details
Ashley stands at 175 cm tall, which contributed to his agility and effectiveness as a winger and full-back on the football pitch. Throughout his career, he has played for well-known teams including Watford, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Everton, and Ipswich.
Aside from his club achievements, Ashley has maintained a well-known presence in British football. Following his extensive playing career, he joined Sky Sports as a guest pundit for the Premier League season.
Birthday and age
Ashley Young was born on July 9, 1985, which makes Ashley 41 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Ashley shares the date with 69 other famous people.
Explore more
