Ashley Simon Young was born on 9 July 1985 in the town of Stevenage in Hertfordshire, England. He grew up with three brothers – one older and two younger – in a supportive family environment. His father is Jamaican-born and worked in the IT industry, while his mother is English. Young’s parents encouraged all their children’s ambitions and “backed us 100 per cent in whatever we’ve wanted to do,” he recalls. Two of his younger brothers, Lewis and Kyle, also gravitated toward football from an early age, underscoring the household’s strong sporting focus.
From childhood, Young showed an exceptional passion for football. He joined the local youth club Stevenage Colts at just five years old, and he was known to kick anything that moved – whether a stone, a can, or a ball – as if it were a football.
By the age of 10, he was playing for the Stevenage district youth team, already standing out for his attacking talent. In one youth season, Young remarkably scored 64 goals, including an occasion when he netted eight goals in a single match. Such early exploits highlighted his natural ability and drive long before his professional career began.
Young attended The John Henry Newman School, a Roman Catholic secondary school in Stevenage. There, he continued to develop his skills and even played on the school’s football team alongside classmate Lewis Hamilton (who later became a Formula One world champion). During his youth, Young was a devoted Arsenal supporter, following the lead of his older brother.
This was in spite of his father being a Tottenham Hotspur fan, a rivalry that made Young’s choice of hero especially poignant – he idolized Arsenal legend Ian Wright as his role model on and off the pitch. These early influences, from family support to boyhood football idols, shaped Young’s formative years and set the foundation for his future in the sport.
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Profession | Antiques expert & TV presenter |
| Known For | Bargain Hunt, Flog It!, Antiques Road Trip |
| Income Sources | TV shows, valuations, antique dealing |
| Specialization | Jewellery & silver |
| Experience | 20+ years in antiques |
| Auction Work | Formerly with Brightwells & Phillips |
| Business | Runs private valuation service |
| Skills | Appraisal, authentication, auctions |
| Reputation | Trusted expert with friendly style |
Ashley Young (born 9 July 1985) is a veteran English professional footballer known for his versatility on the wing or at full-back. Over a career spanning more than two decades, Young has appeared in top leagues in England and Italy and collected major honours including a Premier League title, an FA Cup, a Europa League, and an Italian Serie A championship.
He has made over 700 senior club appearances and earned 39 caps for the England national team, featuring at Euro 2012 and the 2018 World Cup. As of the 2025–26 season, Young plays for Ipswich Town in the EFL Championship and has also begun working as a guest pundit on Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage.
Young progressed through the Watford youth academy and made his senior debut in 2003 under manager Ray Lewington. In his debut match as an 18-year-old substitute, he scored in a 3–1 win over Millwall.
He gradually became a regular starter for Watford. In the 2005–06 season he was a key player in Watford’s promotion campaign, contributing important goals as the team won the Championship play-off final 3–0 against Leeds United to reach the Premier League.
By January 2007, when he left Watford, Young had made roughly 98 league appearances and scored 19 goals for the club.
In January 2007 Young moved to Aston Villa for an initial fee of about £8 million then a club record for Villa. He marked his Villa debut by scoring at Newcastle United later that month.
Over the following seasons he became one of Villa’s standout performers, regularly featuring on the left wing. In 2007–08 he recorded 17 assists in the Premier League (second only to one other player) and was named to the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
His strong form continued into 2008–09, when he won the PFA Young Player of the Year award. By the time he departed Villa in 2011, Young had made 157 league appearances and scored 30 goals for the club, helping Villa to high league finishes and a run to the League Cup final.
Young signed with Manchester United in June 2011 on a five-year contract, for a transfer fee reported around £15–16 million. He became a versatile member of United’s squad, playing as a winger or full-back on either side.
In a nine-season spell at Old Trafford, Young made 261 appearances and scored 19 goals. He helped Manchester United win five major trophies: the Premier League title in 2012–13 (Sir Alex Ferguson’s final title), the FA Cup in 2015–16, both the League Cup and the Europa League in 2016–17, as well as three Community Shield matches.
In August 2019 he was named club captain for the 2019–20 season. Young was also a regular England international during this period, earning 39 caps and appearing at Euro 2012 and the 2018 World Cup.
In January 2020, Young transferred to Inter Milan on an 18-month contract. He became only the third English player ever to play for Inter.
During his time in Italy he featured mainly as a wing-back, totaling 59 appearances and 5 goals for the Nerazzurri. In the 2020–21 season he was an important member of the Inter squad that won the Serie A title, the club’s first Scudetto in 11 years.
Young thus became the first Englishman to win the Italian league title with Inter. The club’s official communications praised his contributions on and off the pitch, noting both his work ethic and leadership in the dressing room during the championship season.
Young returned to England in June 2021 by re-signing with Aston Villa on a one-year deal. This second spell at Villa lasted two seasons (2021–22 and 2022–23) and he made 53 Premier League appearances, providing experience in wide midfield and defensive roles.
In July 2023 he moved to Everton on a free transfer, agreeing a one-year contract. At Goodison Park Young added 63 more top-flight appearances (scoring one goal) over two seasons, operating primarily as a right-back under manager Sean Dyche.
In these later years of his playing career he was valued as a veteran leader and consistent professional presence in the squad.
In July 2025, Young signed a one-year contract with Championship club Ipswich Town. At age 40 he became Ipswich’s oldest-ever signing, bringing vast Premier League and international experience to the team.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna immediately highlighted Young’s professionalism and leadership, stating that his “leadership and experience will be valuable” to the squad.
Alongside continuing to play for Ipswich, Young has expanded into broadcasting: he joined Sky Sports as a guest pundit for Premier League coverage in the 2025–26 season. This role takes advantage of his extensive career knowledge while he continues contributing on the field at club level.
As of 2026, his net worth has not been publicly disclosed, and no figure has been officially verified by major financial authorities. His income sources include his salary from his professional football contract with Ipswich Town (an EFL Championship club) and fees from media work, such as guest pundit appearances on Sky Sports. Specific earnings from these contracts and roles have not been publicly disclosed.
Ashley Young is an English professional footballer known for playing as a winger or full-back. Over his career he has played for clubs including Watford, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Everton, and Ipswich Town. He has also represented the England national team.
Ashley Young was born on 9 July 1985 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England. He began playing football at a young age and later developed through Watford’s youth academy.
Ashley Young has played for Watford, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Everton, and Ipswich Town. His career has included spells in both the English Premier League and Italy’s Serie A.
Yes, Ashley Young represented England at the senior international level. He earned 39 caps and played in major tournaments including UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Ashley Young has played primarily as a winger earlier in his career and later as a full-back or wing-back. His versatility allowed him to play on both the left and right sides of the pitch.