Back in 2017, the English under 20’s side overcame Venezuela to win the world cup 1-0. This paved a way through for a new generation of english talent such as Lewis Cook, Dominic Calvert Lewin and Ainsley Maitland Niles to become regular starters in the premier league. The Under 17’s experienced the same success in a star-studded XI containing the likes of Jadon Sancho, Angel Gomes, Phil Foden and Callum Hudson-Odoi. However in Europes top 5 leagues, premier league clubs give notably less game time to young players. Therefore should young english players move abroad for a better chance at first team minutes? And who is representing England in foreign leagues?
Sheyi Ojo was one of those who came on in the under 20’s final against Venezuela back in 2017. Since then the pacy right winger was loaned from his parent club Liverpool to Fulham as they seeked promotion to the premier league. Without setting the league on fire, Ojo racked up 1,516 minutes and scored 4 times in 24 appearances. In the summer of 2018, down in the picking order from Liverpool’s world class wingers: Sadio Mane and Mo Salah – Ojo moved abroad on loan to Reims in France. Reims had a successful season finishing midway in Ligue 1 – Ojo made 19 appearances and scored just one goal , with a notable performance being against Marseille. His game time in the championship the season prior was higher than his loan spell in France and finding a way into Liverpools XI looking every more unlikely a move to an established championship club would be his best bet. Furthermore, Ojo admits to being tempted ti switching nationalities to Nigerian taking him outside of this list
The once youngest ever premier league player, Reece Oxford made his debut 4 years ago at age 16 years and 197 days. Since then, game time at West Ham was limited and after a brief loan at reading, Oxford attracted attention from the Bundesliga in the form of Monchengladbach who took him on loan. He failed to make any real impact, mustering a slim 8 games in all competitions. The loan spells and lack of premier league game time meant Oxford who was “the next big thing” went under the medias radar. This season, Oxford returned to West Ham who under Pellegrini rarely included him so once again he was loaned out to Germany in the form of struggling Augsburg for a fee of £450,000. His time at Augsburg was again not so memorable but at least he played the same number of games as at Monchengladbach but in significantly fewer games – reports are linking him with a permanent transfer to Augsburg. With premier league chances looking depleted the experience he may gain from 15th place Augsburg could be invaluable should he sign and create a trend in English players moving abroad.
Mauricio Pochettino compared Marcus Edwards to Lionel Messi all but two years ago. Since then he had a dismal 2017/18 campaign and his form slumped. Seeking game time, Edwards was loaned to Norwich but Daniel Farke questioned the youngsters attitude and he failed to make an appearance in his half-season spell. A move in January to Rotterdam outfit Exelsior changed the 20-year-olds fortunes as he became an important player in the clubs bid for survival in an admittedly weak Eredivise league racking up 1726 minutes in 25 games (more than both Ojo and Oxford). He didn’t exactly take the league by storm but this loan spell provided Edwards with invaluable experience whilst performing in a relegation struggled team and even produced his first professional goal against Vitesse (and 4 assists over the course of the season). Seen as though Tottenham will look to strengthen their already strong squad to earn success domestically, young Marcus will be reluctant to spend another season with the under 23’s and a move away is likely to be on the books. Probably on loan, possibly permanently.
Before we get into the two largest success stories in terms of English talent abroad, lets have a brief look at a few more English players abroad. Josh Maja, a highly rated Sunderland academy graduate who scored 15 goals in league one this year moved to Bordeaux for an undisclosed fee. Sadly he hasn’t lived up to his potential with the French side. Meanwhile in the top tier of Spanish football, Man City youngster Patrick Roberts has done reasonably well for Girona on loan without being anything special and ex-Leeds Ronaldo Viera Nan has featured sporadically for Sampdoria in Italy.
The indisputably best examples of English youth getting better chances abroad are Jadon Sancho and Reiss Nelson. Lets start with Sancho. Originally a Watford academy player, Sancho moved north to Manchester City but after frustration with Pep Guardiola’s reluctance to include him in the first team Sancho left England for Dortmund. Its an understatement to say that he hit the ground flying – assisting in his first game against RB Leipzig. He went on to score 13 goals for Dortmund including his first champions league goal and having the most assists in Europe (19). His form was rewarded by a player of the month award in October and now top European football clubs such as Manchester United and PSG are interested in a deal possibly worth £100 million. Reiss Nelson also shone in his loan move to Hoffenheim where he also accumulated masses of game time and even champions league minutes before his return back to Arsenal this summer. He mustered 7 goals and 1 assist in 23 games for the bundesliga side and the young right winger should have a great chance at breaking into the Arsenal first team next season after proving his ability abroad.
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