Ranking of the best foreign football players in the English Premier League

The Premier League has been the heartbeat of world football for decades. And since its rebranding in 1992, it’s become more than just a competition—it’s now a global phenomenon. But what’s driven its incredible rise? Is it the billions in funding? The nail-biting drama on the pitch?

One key ingredient we can say stands out is the import of foreign talent. These players have brought flair, skill, and unforgettable moments to English football, transforming it into the world’s most-watched league. In fact, as of the 23/24 English Premier League season,  Transfermarket reports that over 66% of Premier League players are foreign nationals. 

Top Foreign Premier League Players Ever

So, who are some of the best foreign footballers that have played in the English Premier League? To answer this, Kate Richardson, in-house guest post writer has put together an undebatable list featuring the EPL’s greatest imports.

1. Thierry Henry (Arsenal)

Whenever anyone compiles a list of some of the best players to ever kick a ball in the English Premier League, the name Thierry Henry would always pop up. So it’s no surprise that his name is on our list of the best foreign players in the Premier League. 

During his time in England, the French National was a terror to the opposition with his skillful elegance, clinical finishing and speed. This becomes obvious with his record of 175 goals for the Gunners during his eight-year spell. 

Thierry Henry was also a pivotal asset to setting one of the longest standing records in the premier league, Arsenal’s Invincible season. He was a magician, as he showed that he had what it took to single-handedly win matches and wreak havoc between opposition defenders. This prompted his former teammate at Barcelona, Lionel Messi to say: “The first day that he came into the dressing room, I did not dare to look him in the face. I knew everything that he had done in England.”

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

 In 2003, a skinny boy from Madeira, Portugal, was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson for £12 million, and the spotlight turned to him. That boy, of course, was Cristiano Ronaldo. In the last three seasons before his departure to Spanish giants, Real Madrid, he took the league by storm. He had an impressive play style that rocked the league and added over 84 goals to his name. And this won him the prestigious Balon D’Or Award in 2008 among many more awards. 

However his second coming was the most talked about in the Premier League, when he returned to his boyhood club, Manchester United in 2021 after spells in Madrid and Juventus. 

Leading to one of the Peter Drury legendary commentary: “Madeira, Manchester, Madrid, Turin, and Manchester again… 18 years since that trembling teenager of touch and tease first tiptoed onto this storied stage”. Yet, despite the excitement, his second spell soured due to poor backroom issues.

3. Eric Cantona (Manchester United)

There’s something unexplainable about French exports to the Premier League, and who better to embody that “thing” than the King of Old Trafford—Eric Cantona. From the moment he signed with Manchester United in 1992, it was clear a new maestro had arrived. 

He dazzled the crowd with his performances on and off the field, with his iconic chip against Sunderland and legendary celebration still talked about today. But that wasn’t all. In his first season, Cantona helped United win the league for the first time in 25 years. This achievement, among others, firmly ensured that he became one of the Premier League’s greatest foreign imports.

4. Patrick Vieira (Arsenal, Manchester City)

 While Theirry Henry was wreaking havoc from the frontlines of the Gunners, one man held the whole thing together, his name was Patrick Veira. This Frenchman was the cog that kept the Arsenal midfield running during his nine-year spell at the club. His towering presence and unbridled control of the midfield made him easily boss the game and earned him the respect of the fans.

But what a lot of people love about him was his charisma on the field especially when playing against rivals. This guy had that fighting spirit that is missing in this present Arsenal squad. In fact on numerous occasions, he usually got in duels and was quite fond of being at loggerheads with one of the players on our list, Roy Keane. Asides this, Veira shone on the pitch and became a club and league legend. 

5. Mohamed Salah (Chelsea, Liverpool)

One thing we are sure of is that at some point you probably had Mohammed Salah on your Fantasy Premier League team. Why? Because we all know he is one of the best picks to have. 

Well, all this points to the fact that he’s one exceptional player, who has probably put your team to the sword. However, the Egyptian forward didn’t start life in English football that smoothly, as he flunked his first attempt with Chelsea. But when he returned to England with Liverpool, he became the beast of Merseyside. 

His prowess in front of goal has earned him a spot as one of the most lethal forwards English football has ever seen. In the 2017-18 season, he came close to breaking the record for the  most Premier League goals by an African in a single campaign but ended up placing third behind Andy Cole and Alan Shearer. Well when you add his goal scoring record to his team and individual titles, you get to understand why he’s on our list. 

6. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City)

 "Aguerooooo!" Those words alike are enough to pierce through the heart of every Manchester United fan. But on the blue side of Manchester, those words placed Argentine striker Kun Aguero as one of the club legends. 

His last gasp goal was all that was needed to help City win their first Premier League title in 2012. But it wasn’t just that moment that made Aguero a top notch foreign import in the Premier League. We would have to give most of the recognition to his impressive record which featured over 184 Premier League goals. 

This record alone carved his name in stone as the Cityzen’s all time top scorer, but soon that record might be threatened by that “lab built” kid from Norway. 

7. Kevin De Bruyne (Chelsea, Manchester City)

We have to admit that there’s something magical about watching Kevin De Bruyne play football. And we dare to say that he’s one of the best the Premier League has ever seen. His vision, passing range, and ability to score from anywhere make him one of the best midfielders in the world. 

And we also can’t forget his impressive 113 assists which have been key to the success at Manchester City. Infact, this Belgian is the conductor to all Manchester City’s perfectly orchestrated success in the past couple of years.  

8. Roy Keane (Nottingham Forest, Manchester United)

 Every manager wants Roy Keane on their team, as he’s a player that understands what’s at stake. This Irishman was the classic midfielder, and this was shown with his commanding presence on the field. He was a very ruthless and brutal player who didn’t give opposition players any breathing space to make magic. 

And maybe that’s why players like Arsenal’s Veira and Alf-Inge Haaland would always have some disdain for him. His leadership of the Manchester United team in the 90s and 2000s was also quite important in their success. As he led to winning several league victories, derbies and rivalries. 

9. Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

Whenever Chelsea needed a hero, Didier Drogba, the Ivorian legend was always ready to deliver. And what a sad day it usually turned out for the opposing team who had to deal with the strength and aerial ability of Drogba. 

The Ivorian striker knew what it took to turn a game around and when to score crucial goals. One of his most famous goals came in Chelsea’s win against Bayern Munich to help them clinch the UEFA Champions League in 2012. While in the Premier League, Didier Drogba wasn’t goal shy, as he scored 104 goals in 254 appearances earning him third place among top African goal scorers. 

10. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

 While some might argue that it’s still early to include Erling Haaland on this list, we actually will beg to differ. This is because it would be wild not to include the Norwegian goal machine on our list. From the moment he was shipped into Manchester City in 2022, the league knew that a superstar had come.

In his debut Premier League season, this 24 year old goal machine smashed the record of most goals in a season to bits. And he did it with style, with 36 goals to his name. This was when everyone knew that Manchester City had just imported a bionic human from Norway. His strength, speed and finishing is almost like they made him in a lab and it seems unfair to other players. 

In just 88 league appearances, Halaand has scored 80 goals and that’s more than most strikers manage throughout their careers. At just 24, he is only just getting started. And for those looking to place a bet on Haaland's next goal-scoring record look no further. There are several betting platforms available in Norway, that offer amazing odds like player stats and goals that can help you win big. 

Why These Players Matter

To conclude, we have to ask ourselves this question: what makes these players special? Well, we have to attribute it to their stats, trophies and moments they created which got fans off their seats. But we also have to remember that these foreign nationals are an integral part of the premier league as they make it more exciting, interesting and unforgettable.