While the Premier League has grown in its diverse range of nationalities, there are some players that are solely representing their nation in the world’s greatest league.
There are currently 244 English players in the Premier League, 213 more than their nearest challenger in Brazil who have 31. The range of participating countries seems to expand each year and has substantially grown since it’s founding. When the first Premier League season kicked off in 1992, there were 30 different countries represented, according to FBREF. In this current season, that number has doubled with players from 63 different countries competing in the Premier League.
England’s top flight has drawn in audiences from around the globe and its popularity has increased dramatically over its 32 years of existence. Although the league has improved its inclusivity, there are 16 players who are single handedly flying the flags for their country.
Rayan Aït-Nouri (Wolves/ Algeria)
Minutes played this season: 1,881
An ever present in Wolves’ defence and has been one of their top performer’s this season. The Algerian defender has scored three and assisted five goals for Wolves in what has been a poor season for the club. Aït-Nouri has been linked with a move this month but will hope to improve Wolves’ recent form in the meantime.
Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest/ New Zealand)
Minutes played this season: 1,834
Chris Wood is having a season to remember. He has been in scintillating form for Nottingham Forest this season and has helped them rise from relegation candidates to top four challenges. The Kiwi has scored 14 goals this season and has been one of the top strikers in the league.
Arijanet Muric (Ipswich Town/ Kosovo)
Minutes played this season: 1,530
A former Man City underage prospect, Arijanet Muric has shown his quality in Ipswich Town’s life back in the top flight. The Kosovo keeper has made 27 appearances this season but has kept only 1 clean sheet. The Tractor Boys will need him at his best if they are to survive the drop this season.
Mario Lemina (Wolves/ Gabon)
Minutes played this season: 1,364
Mario Lemina has had a challenging season with Wolves and could be on the way out of the club. Captain under Gary O’Neil, Lemina’s frustration got the better of him after Wolves’ defeat to West Ham and his reaction at full time lost him the captaincy. He is the sole representative for Gabon the Premier League but that could soon change.
Radu Drăgușin (Tottenham/ Romania)
Minutes played this season: 1,252
Radu Drăgușin has been a key figure in Spurs’ defence this season. With injuries causing havoc in the Tottenham squad, Drăgușin has stepped for Ange’s men in what has been a disappointing campaign. He and Tottenham will be aiming for a swift change in fortune and to be challenging in the European places by the end of the season.
Yankuba Minteh (Brighton/ Gambia)
Minutes played this season: 750
Brighton and Gambia have a top player in their ranks. Yankuba Minteh has shown some brilliant performances so far in his debut season for the Seagulls and will be aiming to build on his 3 goals and 2 assists. Although having been dropped by head coach Fabian Hurzeler in their 1-0 home defeat to Everton for disciplinary reasons, the 20 year old has shown that he has an abundance of talent and one the club will want to hold on to.
Martin Dúbravka (Newcastle/ Slovakia)
Minutes played this season: 720
Martin Dúbravka has been a Newcastle stalwart since their promotion to the Premier League. He has been at the club for the past 8 seasons and has played 160 times for the Toon. While Nick Pope recovers, Dúbravka has helped Newcastle find their best form again and while he may leave the club this month, he has been a top professional in his Newcastle career.
Ben Brereton (Southampton/ Chile)
Minutes played this season: 449
It’s not been the Premier League return that Ben Brereton had hoped for. In Southampton’s miserable campaign so far, He has played 10 times, and he is still yet to get on the scoresheet.
Beto (Everton/ Guinea-Bissau)
Minutes played this season: 317
Beto is set to leave Everton this month and will mean that Guinea-Bissau will have no Premier League player in their lineup. He has endured a tough spell at the Toffees with just 4 goals in his 44 appearances, just a single goal this season.
Patson Daka (Leicester City/ Zambia)
Minutes played this season: 276
Patson Daka has been unfortunate in his Leicester City career as he has had to play second fiddle to club legend Jamie Vardy. The Zambian striker has played in 11 games for Leicester City this season and manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy is a big fan of the player.
“Also at a younger age, when he was at Salzburg, I was following him already. I was very interested in him when I was PSV manager, to be honest. I think he’s got great potential. That’s what he showed in Austria, scoring a lot of goals, assisting a lot. It’s something that I saw in him. He’s only going to get better, I think, developing him on a daily basis. He’s got a lot of potential.”
Ali Al Hamadi (Ipswich Town/ Iraq)
Minutes played this season: 134
Ali Al-Hamadi is the first Iraq-born player to play in the Premier League. Leaving his country when he was just 1 year old, he and his family fled Iraq due to the ongoing war in the country. From Jordan, he arrived in Toxteth, Liverpool. Joining Tranmere Rovers academy, Al-Hamadi soon made his mark in the game with Wycombe Wanderers and later AFC Wimbledon. He joined Ipswich Town in January 2024 and has played 11 games for the club this season. He has since moved to Stoke City on loan, but his story is hopefully on beginning in the top tier.
Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson (Brentford/ Iceland)
Minutes played this season: 55
Brentford have been impressive once again this season and Mark Flekken has been irreplaceable as the club number one. At just 23 years of age, Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson has a bright future ahead and Iceland will be hoping that the young goalkeeper gets more minutes to add to his development.
Abdukodir Khusanov (Man City/ Uzbekistan)
Minutes played this season: 53
What a way to be introduced to the Premier League. Despite having just signed for Man City, Pep Guardiola started him at centre back against Chelsea on Saturday evening. Despite a nervy start, where his error gave Chelsea the lead, Khusanov was a solid force in the heart of the Man City defence. He will be keen to show more of his worth over the next few weeks and become the inspiration for the youth Uzbekistan as the only player to play in the Premier League from the nation.
Zain Silcott-Duberry (Bournemouth/ Montserrat)
Minutes played this season: 1
Although Zain Silcott-Duberry has played only a single minute for Bournemouth, the teenager has only recently left Chelsea to join the Cherries and has a bright future ahead of him. He has enjoyed a successful youth development at Chelsea and signed his first professional contract in August 2022. He also became the first player from Montserrat to play in the Premier League.
Ezra Mayers (West Ham/ Barbados)
Minutes played this season: 0
We are still yet to see Ezra Mayers play in the Premier League but if his youth career is anything to go by, he is going to be an important player in the future for Graham Potter and the Hammers. He was awarded his first professional contract in 2023/2024 after impressing with the youth team and has made an impact with the club’s u21 sides also.
Asmir Begovic (Everton/ Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Minutes played this season: 0
Bosnia & Herzegovina’s sole representative in the Premier League is none other than Asmir Begović. A player with 256 Premier League appearances and a career that has spanned 22 years, he has certainly aged like a fine wine. At Everton, he has been a brilliant backup to Jordan Pickford and will be an important leader in the dressing room for David Moyes.