British Footballers Playing Abroad

The January transfer window has now shut for another year with £128 million spent on players by Premier League clubs - more than twice what was laid out last year.

With the influx of foreign players coming into the Premier League, (Newcastle bought in 5 French players!) more and more British players are looking abroad to find regular football. Whether its a last "hurrah" or a genuine desire to get first team football, British players are now dotted across the globe in their quest to get a game. We have a look at some of the higher profile players that are currently turning out for a foreign side

* Emile Heskey - Newcastle Jets (Australia) - The former Liverpool player joined the Austrailian A-League Team in 2012 after his contact expired at his last club Aston Villa. At the age of 35 this looks likely to be the last professional team he will play for

* Michael Bridges  - Newcastle Jets (Australia) - An injury ravaged career meant that after dropping into the domestic English league after playing with teams such as Leeds United and Sunderland, Bridges found a new challenge in Australia in 2009 with the Newcastle Jets

* Julian Gray - Nea Salamis Famagusta (Cyprus) - After his release from Walsall FC, Gray decided to try his luck at Cypriot side Nea Salamis Famagusta where he has played since 2011

* David Beckham - Paris St Germain (France) - Arguably the most famous footballer of recent times, Beckham signed for PGG in the January 2013 transfer window on a 5 month contract. There was much talk about him joining a Premier League club however he has said that he would never join an English side again due to his loyalties to former club Manchester United.

* Joey Barton - Marseille (France) - After a turbulent time at QPR, Barton joined Marseille at the start of the 2012-13 season on a years loan.

* Ryan Mason - Lorient (France) - After struggling to make the Tottenham Hotspur first team, Mason took the opportunity of first team football with a loan move to French side Lorient in January 2013

* Michael Mancienne - Hamburg (Germany). A £1.75 million buy from Chelsea, Mancienne joined Hamburg in 2011 after long loan spells in England with QPR and Wolves from parent club Chelsea.

* Scott Carson - Bursaspor (Turkey). Many were suprised when Carson made the move from West Brom to Bursaspor in 2011 but he had a good first season in 2011-12 winning a Turkish Cup runners up medal and only conceding 35 goals in 34 games

* Anton Ferdinand - Bursaspor (Turkey) - In the January 2013 transfer window, Ferdinand opted to move to Turkey in a loan move from QPR after struggling to get a first team place when Harry Redknapp took over as manager.

* Kenny Miller - Vancouver Whitecaps (Canada). The much travelled Scottish striker moved to the Whitecaps in 2012 after a disappointing season with Cardiff City.

* Robbie Keane - LA Galaxy (USA) - Former Tottenham Hotspur captain Keane moved to the USA in 2011 and has won the MLS Cup in both 2011 and 2012

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