The landscape of British football has shifted dramatically over the past two decades, with moves to continental Europe evolving from exotic novelty into a routine career step. While pioneers like Gazza, John Charles, and Kevin Keegan broke ground decades ago, an increasing number of modern stars now ply their trade overseas, including eight members of England’s recent World Cup squad.
Reflecting on this migration, BBC Sport journalist Alex Bysouth has compiled a definitive ranking of the top ten British exports since the turn of the century, highlighting those who achieved significant silverware and cultural impact abroad.
At number ten is Kieran Trippier. After being deemed surplus to requirements by Tottenham following their 2019 Champions League final defeat, the defender revitalized his career at Atletico Madrid. He became the club’s first English player in nearly a century and helped secure their second La Liga title in 25 years, breaking the dominance of Barcelona and Real Madrid. He returned to the Premier League with Newcastle United refreshed and successful.
Ninth place goes to Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan. Despite early British attempts in Serie A yielding mixed results, Tomori has become a stalwart at San Siro. He won the Scudetto in the 2021-22 season, earning a spot in the league’s team of the season, and has now spent seven seasons with the Italian giants.
Jadon Sancho takes eighth spot. His four-year stint at Borussia Dortmund was a resounding success, particularly for a teenager who rejected Manchester City to move to Germany. Sancho recorded 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 games, winning the German Cup and finishing as runner-up for both the European Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy. His journey helped pave the way for younger British talents to develop abroad.
In seventh is David Beckham, whose impact extends beyond statistics. After winning La Liga with Real Madrid, his move to LA Galaxy brought unprecedented attention to Major League Soccer. He led the Galaxy to two MLS Cups and two Supporters’ Shields. His career also included loan spells at AC Milan and a final season at Paris Saint-Germain, where he won Ligue 1 before retiring in 2013.
Scott McTominay claims sixth place after becoming a cult hero at Napoli. The Scottish midfielder transformed his career after joining the Italian club, scoring 12 goals from midfield in his debut season to help Napoli win their fourth Scudetto. His performances earned him the Serie A MVP award and secured his place in club folklore alongside legends like Diego Maradona.
Owen Hargreaves is ranked fifth. Although born in Canada, the former Bayern Munich midfielder earned 42 caps for England. His seven years in Munich were decorated with four Bundesliga titles and several German Cups. His crowning achievement came in 2001 when, as a 20-year-old, he helped Bayern defeat Valencia in the Champions League final, becoming only the third British player to win the competition with a foreign club.
Jude Bellingham sits at number four, making history as the fourth British player to win the Champions League with a non-English club. After blossoming at Borussia Dortmund, where he became the youngest English player to start a Champions League match, he moved to Real Madrid for over £100m. He immediately made an impact, scoring 23 goals to help Madrid win La Liga and the Champions League, while finishing third in the Ballon d’Or voting.
Harry Kane takes third place, distinguished by his staggering goal-scoring record at Bayern Munich. He reached 100 Bundesliga goals faster than any player in the competition’s history. Across all competitions, Kane has netted 152 goals in 154 games for Bayern, winning the European Golden Shoe in his debut season and securing two Bundesliga titles and a German Cup.
Steven McManaman is ranked second. His 1999 move to Real Madrid was groundbreaking as the first direct transfer from the Premier League to the Spanish giants. He scored a notable volley in the 2000 Champions League final and won two European Cups during his four-season spell, despite receiving only 37 England caps.
While the original source material concludes the top ten list at number two, the article notes that the ranking invites debate among fans, acknowledging the trailblazing efforts of earlier generations who made these modern exports possible.
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