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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Barry back from retirement</li><li>Signed for 11-tier English side</li><li>Last played for West Brom</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Premier League record-holder and ex-England international comes out of retirement aged 43 to sign for new club

The ex-Aston Villa, Manchester City and Everton star has staged a comeback four years after announcing his retirement from professional football as he signs for 11th-tier English club Hurstpierpoint. The 43-year-old will play in the second tier of the Mid Sussex Football League where Hurstpierpoint currently ply their trade.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">✍️ BARRY IS A BLUEDOG! 🔵🐶 We are beyond delighted to announce that former-England international and all-time Premier League record appearance holder, Gareth Barry, has signed for Hurstpierpoint Football Club. <a href="https://t.co/cMsrJcmm4o">pic.twitter.com/cMsrJcmm4o</a>— Hurstpierpoint FC (@hurstpierpoint1) <a href="https://twitter.com/hurstpierpoint1/status/1815311349745963076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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WHAT HAPPENED?

After securing the signature of the veteran English midfielder, club chairman and first-team head coach Dudley Christensen told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c4ngjn0lw8ro" target="_blank">BBC Sport:</a> "He came along to training and loved us. I don't think he's going to be around to play every week, but he's a great signing and he's going to raise our profile. I'll let him do what he wants to do. He can play where he likes, but I expect he'll sit in front of the defence and be a shield."

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Barry made his senior debut back in 1998 for Aston Villa and spent the next 22 years in the Premier League where he became the most-capped player in history. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/barry-passes-giggs-to-become-premier-leagues-record-appearance-holder/so1rzp8web22162nz2pmr4abc" target="_blank">He surpassed Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs's tally</a> of 632 matches in 2017 and ended his career with 653 caps to his name.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The former Cityzens star will now look forward to playing his first match in over four years when the Mid Sussex Football League Championship kicks off.

WHAT NEXT?

Premier League record-holder and ex-England international comes out of retirement aged 43 to sign for new club | Goal.com Singapore

Former England international Gareth Barry has come out of retirement after four years away to sign for an 11th tier English club.