He’s tipped be England’s next best thing, but Birmingham’s teenage sensation Jude Bellingham has opted to move outside his comfort zone from next season onwards to join German giants Borussia Dortmund.
Bellingham has followed in the footsteps of several bright young English stars in recent years in opting to continue his career development abroad.
While English players playing abroad used to be a rarity confined to big-name stars – think back to Beckham and Owen at Real Madrid – it now seems more and more of Generation Z want to escape Premier League academies and try their luck on the continent.
Here’s our list of the most promising current English players abroad…
English Players Playing Abroad
Current & Future Stars
JADON SANCHO – BORUSSIA DORTMUND
In 20 years’ time, he might be considered the pioneer who transformed English football.
We’ve seen English players move abroad before, but usually as one last pay cheque after a glittering career in the Premier League. Jadon Sancho changed all that with his move to Borussia Dortmund in 2017
The former Watford and Man City youth teamer decided to fast-track his way into the ranks of the European elite by joining a club renowned for fine-tuning bright young talent in Dortmund, and sparked a step-change in mentality from young English players in the process.
It’s fair to say the gamble paid off. After 20 goals in 44 games in only his third full season with BVB, Sancho is now Europe’s hottest property, with Man Utd among the clubs thought to be eyeing up a near £100m move this summer. Wherever he ends up, Sancho will surely look back on his stint in North Rhine-Westphalia as one of his smartest career moves.
Thanks to Sancho, a move abroad now seems a no-brainer for players prepared to back themselves to reach the top by any means.
KIERAN TRIPPIER – ATLETICO MADRID
Trippier is that rarest of things – an Englishman who opted to up sticks and move abroad just as he was hitting his prime.
In truth, the 29-year-old looked like a man in need of a fresh start when leaving Spurs last year in a £20m deal, and, given the turbulent end to the Mauricio Pochettino era, the full back probably made the right call in leaving the party while in full swing.
The Lancashire lad’s first season in La Liga has been a qualified success, playing 25 times for a team that failed to hit the heights of previous seasons.
MARCUS EDWARDS – VITÓRIA DE GUIMARÃES
Could Spurs look back on Edwards as the one that got away?
Unless you’re an avid follower of the Portuguese Primeira Liga, Marcus Edwards’ progress has probably slipped under the radar – but be in no doubt some big names will be weighing up an offer in the very near future, including several Premier League sides.
The tricky left-footed winger has embarrassed plenty of Primeira Liga defences in 2019/20, scoring seven times in 33 appearances, and is surprisingly adept at holding his own when challenged despite his diminutive 5’5 ½ frame.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is nothing if not shrewd, and the fact he’s included a 50% sell on fee should Edwards move on shortly should at least see Spurs benefit from over 10 years of youth development on the 21-year-old Londoner.
MAX CLARK – VITESSE ARNHEM
24-year-old Clark took the plunge in 2018/19 and decided to leave the comforts of Championship football with Hull City behind to try his luck in the Eredivisie.
Given the Tigers’ tailspin towards League One since, that decision looks a wise one in hindsight and the 5ft 11in left back / utility man looks to be enjoying life in the Dutch top tier, helping Vitesse to a 7th place finish last season before the campaign was curtailed.
He’s already being touted for bigger things, with Leicester City reportedly following his progress closely should Ben Chilwell move on this summer.
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN – RB LEIPZIG
2020/21 looks set to be the year where Lookman’s move to RB Leipzig can be judged a success or failure.
The 22-year-old looked to be making the most of his new lease of life in the Bundesliga when he joined RB on loan back in 2017 after a disappointing time at Everton.
However, since making the move permanent at the start of the 2019/20 season, Lookman’s progress seems to have stalled, making just 11 appearances for the club last season.
With the transfer window already heating up, it’ll be interesting to see if any Premier League sides take a second look this summer should Leipzig decide a fresh start is in the best interest of both parties.
RONALDO VIEIRA – SAMPDORIA
The likes of Chris Smalling and Ashley Young have made a splash in Serie A since embarking on an Italian adventure. However, one player who continues to operate under the radar is 21-year-old former Leeds ace Ronaldo Vieira, who despite his Galactico-esque name is in fact an England U21 international.
Raised in Portugal, Viera moved to England as a teenager before rising through the ranks at Leeds. He played over 60 games for Utd in two seasons before making the switch to Sampdoria for £7m, appearing 22 times for La Samp in 2019/20.
Five That Might Just Surprise You….
ADEBAYO AKINFENWA
One of the lower league’s most infectious characters, the ‘Beast’ has become infamous for bullying many an EFL defence during his lengthy career.
However, what you may not know is that the 38-year-old striker actually honed his talents in the Lithuanian A-Lyga. Akinfenwa plied his trade with FK Atlantas for three-years, scoring the winner in the 2001 Lithuanian Cup Final and enjoying a UEFA Cup adventure.
Nearly 20 years later, he’s still a man made for the big occasion, helping guide Wycombe to Championship football for the first time in their history at Wembley in July 2020.
Played for: FK Atlantas, 2001/2
JAMIE CURETON
He’s the archetypal lower league journeyman. Now pushing 45, former Reading and Norwich ace Jamie Cureton is still donning his boots for Enfield Town in the Essex Senior League. That’s the 20th club he’s played for in an enigmatic career that has seen him play in eight tiers of the English football pyramid.
However, one of the more unusual chapters of his footballing journey was a stop-off in South Korea in 2003, where he left Reading to sign for the K League side Busan I’Cons. It proved to be one of his less memorable career moves, as he moved back to England after a low-key six-month stint.
Played for: Busan I’Cons, 2003/04
GRAHAM CAREY
OK, he’s technically Irish, but as a Plymouth stalwart between 2015 and 2019, he’ll be a familiar name to many an EFL fan after a decent career pulling the strings in the Pilgrims midfield.
The 31-year-old attacking midfielder decided to trade in life in the West Country for a stab at life in Eastern Europe after making a surprise move to Bulgarian giants CSKA Sofia in 2019.
So far it looks to have been a gutsy decision, with Carey posting a respectable debut campaign, playing 25 times and scoring four times.
Played for: CSKA Sofia
MICHAEL BRIDGES
Leeds Utd are back in the Premier League, which has led to an outpouring of nostalgia about the Whites’ golden age in the division back in the early 2000s.
One player who helped lead that charge was Bridges, who hit 19 goals in his first season at Elland Road to help them qualify for the Champions League. Injuries would ultimately curb his progress just as he was reaching his peak, with his career ultimately fizzling out as he club-hopped around the EFL.
In 2009, he opted for a change of scene by moving down under – proving a hit with a five-year stay at Australian A League side Newcastle Jets.
Today, he’s a well-known TV personality in Oz as a pundit with Optus Sports.
Played for: Newcastle Jets
STAN COLLYMORE
Wherever former Forest and Liverpool ace Stan Collymore headed during his career, headlines tended to follow – both good and bad.
However, his natural talent as a goalscorer was never in question, and that meant plenty of managers were prepared to take a risk on the often outspoken striker.
That tendency would see a career of highs and lows end in the unusual setting of Asturias, with Collymore agreeing an 18-month deal with Real Oviedo after leaving Bradford City. The trip abroad proved to be ill-fated as he played just three time before announcing his shock retirement at the age of just 30.
Played for: Real Oviedo
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English Players Abroad – Selected List
Spain Primera
- Kieran Trippier, Atletico Madrid
Italy Serie A
- Ashley Young, Inter Milan
- Ronaldo Vieira, Sampdoria
Germany Bundesliga
- Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich
- Jadon Sancho, Borussia Dortmund
- Jude Bellingham, Borussia Dortmund
- Kane Bennetts, Borussia M’gladbach
- Reece Oxford, Augsburg
- Ademola Lookman, RB Leipzig
France Ligue 1
- Stephy Mavidid, Montpellier
Dutch Eredivisie
- Noni Madueke, PSV
- Max Clark, Vitesse
- George Cox, Fortuna Sittard
Australia A-League
- Adam Le Fondre, Sydney
- Craig Noone, Melbourne City
Cypriot First Division
- Matt Derbyshire – Omonia Nicosia
Greece Super League
- Chuba Akpom, PAOK
- Adil Nabi, OFI
Indian Super League
- Matt Kilgallon, Hyderabad
J1 League
- Jay Bothroyd, Consadole Sapporo
Portuguese Primeira
- Chris Willock, Benfica
- Marcus Edwards, Vitoria Guimaraes
- Easah Suliman, Vitoria Guimaraes
Norway Eliteserien
- Jordon Mutch, Aalesund
MLS
- Nedum Onuoha, Real Salt Lake
- Michael Mancienne, New England Revolution
- Bradley Wright-Phillips, Los Angeles FC
