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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British Premier League Players who have Played Abroad

Summer is an exciting time in the football world with much to-ing and fro-ing of players within the English Premier League clubs. So, it is a rarity to see a British player transferred to a foreign club such as England International goalkeeper Scott Carson who is about to join Bursaspor of Turkey from West Bromwich Albion or Michael Mancienne who has joined Hamburg from Chelsea. We have a look at other Premiership players who have been tempted to ply their trade abroad - whether successful or not.

David Beckham (Real Madrid 2003-07, AC Milan 2009,2010, LA Galaxy 2007 - )

Mark Pembridge (Benfica 1998-1999)

Paul Ince (Inter Milan 1995-97)

Efan Ekoku (Grasshoppers 1999-2001)

Scott Minto (Benfica 1997-99)

Dalian Atkinson (Real Sociedad 1990-91, Fenerbache 1995-96)

David Platt (Juventus 1992-93, Sampdoria 1993-95)

Steve McManaman (Real Madrid 1999-2003)

Dean Saunders (Galatasaray 1995-96, Benfica 1998-99)

Gary Charles (Benfica 1999)

Robbie Keane (Inter Milan 2000-2001)

Steve Harkness (Benfica 1999)

Chris Bart-Williams (APOEL 2204-05, Marsaxlokk 2005-06)

Des Walker (Sampdoria 1992-93)

Matt Derbyshire (Olympiakos 2009 - )

Michael Owen (Real Madrid 2004-05)

Jonathan Woodgate (Real Madrid 2004-07)

Darren Huckerby (San Jose Earthquakes 2008-09)

Brian Deane (Benfica 1998, Perth Glory 2005)

Jay Bothroyd (Perugia 2004-2005)

Jermaine Pennant (Real Zaragoza 2009-10)
Robbie Fowler (North Queensland Fury 2009-10, Perth Glory 2010-11)

Darius Vassell (Ankaragucu 2009-10)

Ian Harte (Levante 2004-07)

Steve Finnan (Espanyol 2008-09)

The following players were all loaned out to Royal Antwerp in Belgium as part of Manchester United's long standing relationship with the club 

John O'Shea (2001)

Ryan Shawcross (2007)

Frazier Campbell (2006-07)

Danny Simpson (2006-07)

Jonny Evans (2006)

Darron Gibson (2006-07)

Danny Higginbotham (1998-99)

Ronny Wallwork (1999)

As you can see from the list, Royal Antwerp players aside, there are not many players who have played outside of England. This list would also be shorter if Graeme Souness hadn't been appointed manager of Benfica in 1998 as he brought 6 players with him from the Premier League (Harkness, Minto, Deane, Charles, Pembridge and Saunders.

Also only 3 of the players on the list actually carved out a decent career abroad. David Beckham, Steve McManaman and David Platt all of which would have been successful in any league as they are world class players.

So, the question is "Why are there so few Premier League players that have played abroad?", the answer is simple - Money! Wages in the Premier League have rocketed over the last 10 years or so to the point where an average squad player can still command £20k a week at a mid-table Premier League club. The only teams on the Continent which can or will pay wages similar to what players get in the English Premier League are the likes of AC Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid etc and lets face it not many current UK players would get in their teams anyway hence they tend to say put.

Visit my site http://www.premierleagueheroes.co.uk/ for information, statistics and video on all of your favourite Ex English Premier League players.

Visit my Premier League Shop for all your Official Premier League Team Merchandise and Gifts.

For information and statistics on legends of the Premier League take a look at Premier League Heroes