We remember some of the lower league players that reached the top flight in their 30s, including those who featured for West Brom, Southampton, Leicester City and Burnley.
At the age of 36, Brighton and Hove Albion defender Bruno looks set for his first taste of Premier League football next season.
The right-back, who joined from Spanish side Valencia in 2012, is not the first player to toil away in the lower leagues for many years before getting a shot at English football’s top-flight.
Here are a few players that finally got the opportunity in their 30s:
Rickie Lambert
After prolific spells with Bristol City and Rochdale, Rickie Lambert helped fire Southampton from League One to the Premier League with back-to-back promotions.
The forward, then 30 years old, scored on his Premier League debut as the Saints lost 3-2 against Manchester City. Lambert went on to score 31 top-flight goals following stints at boyhood club Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion.
Gareth McAuley
He might be 37 years old but West Brom defender Gareth McAuley is still going strong in English football’s top tier.
McAuley played for Coleraine, Lincoln City, Leicester City and Ipswich Town before Albion boss Roy Hodgson snapped him up on a free transfer in 2011. The Northern Ireland centre-back is closing in on 200 appearances in the Premier League – all of which came in his 30s.
Graham Alexander
It may be remarkable that McAuley is still going at 37 but Graham Alexander was only just starting life as a Premier League footballer at that age.
The former Scotland international had stints in the lower leagues playing for Scunthorpe United, Luton Town and Preston North End until top-flight promotion finally came with Burnley in 2009. He was part of the Clarets side that beat Manchester United and Everton in their two opening home games of the campaign.
Alexander, who made over 1,000 appearances as a player, also netted seven goals for Burnley in the Premier League, including two braces against Hull City.
Graeme Murty
It took Graeme Murty 13 years as a professional to finally reach the top division. The right-back did it in style by leading Reading to a record point haul in the Championship.
Murty, who is now a coach for Scottish club Rangers, enjoyed a 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough in his first Premier League appearance. He went on to feature another 51 times for the Royals.
Wes Morgan
Not many football league fans would have predicted Wes Morgan would one day play Champions League football and lift the Premier League title, especially after he spent three seasons in League One with Nottingham Forest.
Morgan, at the time 30 years old, captained Leicester to a 2-2 draw against Everton in his top-flight debut. After narrowly avoiding a quick return to Championship football, Morgan secured his place in history by leading the Foxes to the unthinkable in his second Premier League season.
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